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COPWIGHT DEPOSm 




HELAINE 



WITHIN THE GATES 
OF YILDIZ 

A Play in Five Acts 

BY 

JULIEN L. ERODE 




BOSTON 

THE GORHAM PRESS 
1917 



Copyright, 191 7, by Juuen L. Erode 



All Rights Reserved 






The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 

MAR -9 1917 

©CID 48390 



TO 

MY FATHER AND FRIEND 

F. W. ERODE 



PREFACE 

"Truth is Stranger than Fiction" 

During my sojourn at Constantinople, as 
Special Agent for the Department of Com- 
merce and Labor (now the Department of 
Commerce), I met many of the characters 
mentioned in this play. Most of them are 
still alive, and many are now taking an 
active part in the making of Turkish history. 

Naturally, there is some fiction in the play. 
It could hardly be otherwise and be a play, 
but most of the events portrayed actually 
occurred; perhaps, not exactly in the order 
given, but, in the development of the plot, 
very little imagination on my part had to 
be used. 

The events which led up to the dethrone- 
ment of the Old Sultan were dramatic in 
extreme, and formed, to my mind, a fitting 
climax to a stirring story — or play. Origi- 
nally, I intended to write "Within the Gates 
of Yildiz" in the form of a novel, as much 
more in this way could have been brought out 
5 



6 Preface 

regarding the Young Turk Movement, and 
the almost bloodless revolution — a truly won- 
derful one — that followed, and that so upset 
the old order in Turkey. However, in ar- 
ranging the plot, the theme came to my mind 
more easily in the form of a play. Perhaps 
I have tried to crowd into the play so much 
that, from a producer's standpoint, I de- 
tracted from its value as a production possi- 
bility, but I did not care to shorten it by 
eliminating scenes and discourses that would 
leave out important developments in the 
revolution that it was my wish to portray. 

After reading the play, one has an idea 
as to the meaning of the Young Turk Move- 
ment, the Committee of Union and Prog- 
ress; also, an insight into the character of 
the Old Sultan; life within the Royal 
Harem; the spy system; the Selamilik, or 
the royal ceremony of worship; Turkish cus- 
toms in general, and the inside workings of 
Turkish politics — all of which are real. 
Even that part of the play which may^ be 
fiction is asserted to be true by the couriers 
of Constantinople, any one of whom can 
take you to the very wall of Dolma Bagtche 
Palace over which Helaine, our heroine, es- 
caped, and point with local pride to the line in 
the wall showing where a new wall has been 
built on top of the old wall, raising the old 



Preface 7 

wall by some ten feet, and tell you this was 
done to prevent further girls' escaping. 

Your courier will even relate to you the 
story that mine did to me — how a young 
French girl who had been kidnaped by the 
Sultan's agents, and who had been incar- 
cerated in Dolma Bagtche, had made a 
thrilling escape at this spot one dark and 
gloomy night; how she had climbed the wall 
and was fired upon by the guards from 
within as she jumped to the ground outside; 
how in the darkness and in great pain and 
with both ankles sprained she had climbed 
on her hands and knees through the bushes 
and over rough rocks, up the rugged hill- 
side — with soldiers, eunuchs and dogs hot 
on the trail, until faint from exhaustion, she 
at last reached the top of the hill, and ar- 
rived at the French Embassy and to safety. 

Is this not the kind of material that makes 
thrills run up and down your spinal cord 
when you see it across the foothghts? — I 
leave it to you, gentle reader. 

The Author. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

Helaine Frontispiece 

FACING PAGE 

Ahmediyeh Mosque, on the Bosphorus, is fre- 

qtjently visited by the sultan . . .56 

YiLDiz Palace and Hamidieh Mosque ... 92 

Galata Bridge 98 

DoLMA Bagtche Palace 124 



"WITHIN THE GATES OF YILDIZ" 

A Romantic, Historical and Military 

Drama in Five Acts. Scene Laid 

in Constantinople 



The Characters, in the order of their 
appearance. 

MizzET Pasha — A close friend of the 
Sultan, and the head of the palace 
Camarilla. 

HiLMAT Pasha — Grand Visor, and a secret 
member of the Liberal Union Party. 

Habdul Amid — The Sultan of Turkey. 

Saadi Bey — Master of Ceremonies at the 
Yildiz Kiosh. 

Mess. Bideleux and Toriont — Members 
of a powerful band of Continental 
blackmailers and kidnapers. 

Helaine Periot — Beautiful daughter of a 
French nobleman and diplomat. 

Raymond McKensie — Charge d'Affaires 
and First Secretary of the American 
Embassy at Constantinople. 

Emvers Bey — Minister of War, and one of 
the Young Turks. 

Ahmed Bey — Minister of Interior. 

IsMED Pasha — Minister of Finance. 

Talat Bey — Minister of Marine. 

KiANiL Pasha — Minister of Foreign Af- 
fairs. 

Javid Bey — Deputy to the Turkish Parlia- 
ment from Salonika, and a member of 
13 



14 Characters 

the head committee of the secret society 
of the Young Turks, called "The Com- 
mittee of Union and Progress." 

Kasha Bey and Mauhamid BEY-^Officers 
of the palace guard, secret members 
of the Committee of Union and Prog- 
ress. 

Dehlias — Soudanese slave in the harem, 
special attendant to Helaine. 

Massalia and Ester — Caucasian slave 
girls given to Helaine by the Sultan. 

EvETTE — The Sultan's favorite wife. 

Mustafa Sadi — Chief Eunuch to the Royal 
Harem, and brother to Dehlias. 

Henri — Waiter at the Galata Cafe. 

George M. Fleischman — American Am- 
bassador at Constantinople. 

Oscar Ozmund — American Consul General 
at Constantinople. 

Kevshet Pasha — Generalissimo of the 
army of the Young Turks. 

MoHAMiD Ali Bey — Captain In the army 
of the Young Turks. 

French Ambassador and Wife. 

Beh Hassan Ali — A messenger from the 
Sultan. 

Officers, soldiers, servants, wives of the 
Sultan, ambassadors and wives from 
various countries, court musicians, etc. 

Five Principals and nine Minor Parts. 



PLAN I 

Room of State, Yildiz Kiosh 
Interior Scene 

Doors R2E,^ R^E {draperies), L3E 
{draperies) ; Double doors — C rear {dra- 
peries). Window RiE. R2E leads to 
garden. R3E leads to study. L^E leads 
to servant quarters. D C Rear opens to 
hallway. C, large oblong table. In center of 
table, vase with one large rose. On left end, 
a large leather box with brass bands at each 
end of it. Telescope about two to three feet 
long at R end of table. Few books in a 
book rack, writing pad and ink are on table 
suitably arranged. 

Left of table at end, massive armchair, 
leather finished, with beautiful piece of 

* Author's Note. — R2E means Right Second En- 
trance. The stage for convenience is divided from 
right first entrance up to right fourth entrance; left 
first entrance to left fourth entrance. D stands for 
door, C stands for center, R stands for right, and L 
stands for left. W stands for window. 
15 



1 6 Plan I 

gold cloth thrown over hack. Around the 
table are placed five or six chairs of similar 
pattern, hut smaller. In right rear corner 
there is a large cheval mirror. L Front, 
near wings, divan, with screen hehind it 
and in front of it are placed several settees; 
cushion on couch and on floor; narghile, 
or water smoking hottle, on small stand in 
front, to the right of divan. 

RiE, hy window, is placed small tahle 
with some magazines on it and a morris- 
chair heside it. 

On the three walls are hung rugs, some 
silk prayer rugs and one or two Persian and 
Turkish rugs of value. 

Over door (C rear) there is a large paint- 
ing, several feet tall, portraying a Turkish 
soldier emhracing a German soldier. No 
other ornaments are on the walls. 

On the floor there are several rugs, and in 
front of the couch there is a rich red hokhara. 



WITHIN THE GATES OF 
YILDIZ 

ACT I 

Interior 

Scene i — Room of State in the Sultanas 

Palace, Yildiz Kiosh 

Time, Afternoon 

{At Rise 
Mizzet Pasha is seated at right of table, 
Hilmat Pasha is seated in chair behind the 
table, 

Mizzet Pasha has rather dark complexion, 
and is about forty years old. He wears a 
black mustache curled at each end. He is 
about five feet ten inches high. He is well 
dressed in a dark, fashionable cut-away coat 
and wears gray trousers and gray spats. He 
wears a red fez. This character is to be por- 
trayed as a jovial, easy-going man, but 
shrewd, cunning and outwardly a loyal friend 
of the Sultan. He is the head of the palace 
17 



1 8 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Camarilla, or hand of favorites of the 
Sultan. 

Hilmat Pasha — This character is a man 
about sixty years old, is about five feet eleven 
inches, of medium build, and is dignified 
and wears a pointed gray beard. He wears 
dark frock coat, dark trousers, black string 
tie, and red fez. He is the Grand Visor to 
the Sultan and is a secret member of the 
Liberal Union Party, which is reactionary 
and opposed to the Young Turk Party. 

The Grand Visor and Mizzet are smoking 
Turkish cigarettes. For a few moments 
both are silent. Hilmat is seated with one 
arm rested on the table, chin in hand, look- 
ing intently at Mizzet, who has just blown 
a puff of smoke at the ceiling and is lean- 
ing back in his chair. He takes another 
puff, straightens up, flicks the ashes from his 
cigarette and resumes the conversation that 
has apparently been going on before the 
audience was allowed to come into the scene 
by the lifting of the curtain.) 

Mizzet — "These Young Turks seem to 
have everything their own way. It was a 
remarkable bloodless revolution. They are 
so entrenched I fear they cannot be easily out- 
rooted." 

Grand Visor — {Straightening up and lay- 
ing the palms of his hands on the table and 



Act I 19 

leaning over.) "That is why I sent for you. 
I thought your fertile brain might suggest 
a means to an end. We are all simply 
puppets in their hands. They are planning 
now to replace the Praetorian palace guards 
with soldiers from Adrianople and Salonika." 

MizzET — "I hear they have already re- 
moved the officers and have replaced them 
with others who are secret members of their 
Committee of Union and Progress." 

Grand Visor — "It is true. Their accurst 
membership fills every niche in the realm. 
We do not know whom to trust. Something 
drastic must be done, or we are out of it 
forever. That constitution the Sultan was 
forced to grant them last summer must be 
revoked." 

MizzET — {Smokes a moment.) "I have a 
plan that originated with me before I left 
England. When I present it to the Sultan, 
you must seemingly oppose it. This will 
more quickly win him to the idea. Once I 
arouse his cupidity and you his antagonism 
towards your opposition of the plan, he will 
carry it through. When he first ascended the 
throne, did he not at once repeal the con- 
stitution his Uncle Abdul Aziz had just 
granted and did he not have banished the 
originators of it? {Rising.) If he had the 



20 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

audacity to revoke that one, then he will do 
so in this case if we spur him to it." 

Grand Visor — "And with the constitution 
revoked the Young Turk Party will fall!" 
{He rubs his hands together.) 

{Master of Ceremonies, Saadi Bey, ap- 
pears in doorway C rear; he wears a black 
frock coat, dark trousers, string tie and red 
fez. He has single decoration over his right 
breast.) 

Master of Ceremonies — "His Majesty, 
the Sultan." {Salaams and withdraws.) 

{Both the Grand Visor and Mizzet Pasha 
arise and face the door C back. Sultan ap- 
pears in doorway, pauses a moment. Grand 
Visor and Mizzet Pasha both salute him 
Turkish fashion; i. e., deep bow and right 
hand first toward ground, then to chest, lips 
and to forehead, in a fast movement.) 

Sultan — "Gentlemen." {He comes down 
stage.) "Ah, Mizzet, I am glad to see you 
have returned. Evidently your stay in Eng- 
land has done you no harm." {Sultan ex- 
tends hand to Mizzet. ) 

Mizzet Pasha — {Shaking hands.) "No, 
your majesty, it was a healthy sojourn." {All 
three laugh.) 

{Sultan walks over to big chair, head 
of table, sits down and waves the others to 
do likewise. The Sultan wears a black string 



Act I 21 

tie, dark trousers, red fez, like the others, 
and a long brown smoking coat that extends 
to knees and is hound at waist with a cord 
like that of a hath robe. He has a black 
beard, cut to a point; he has a prominent 
nose, rather beaked. He carries himself 
well, has a distinguished air and a manner- 
ism that portrays him to be full of vigor.) 

Sultan — {Jokingly.) "When the Young 
Turks made manifest their power last sum- 
mer, your flight was so precipitant that I 
thought you would scarcely catch cold." {All 
three laugh again.) ''What cheerful news 
do you bring? This continual plotting and 
counter-plotting is about driving me mad. I 
have missed you, Mizzet, you were always 
prolific in schemes that gave diversion to the 
brain and gold to the pocket." 

Mizzet — "Ah, it is one that now brings 
me back." {He leans over the table and 
speaks eagerly and rapidly.) "Stocks the 
world over are now at inflated prices. Invest- 
ments and expansions in industrial, mining 
and railroad enterprises and even in ordinary 
business pursuits have been progressing on 
too large a scale. Prosperity has been ramp- 
ant, borrowers are becoming too broad in 
their views. Curtailment and contraction is 
now in order. A reaction is in the wind, and 



22 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

the big banks of London, Paris, Berlin and 
New York are beginning to hearken unto it. 
Several labor strikes in England and Amer- 
ica for increased wages are being agitated. 
At the moment" {Clenches fist and brings 
it on the table.) "we have the finest chance 
we ever had to make a wonderful bear coup 
in stocks." {He spreads hands.) "But we 
must act quickly, quietly, and we will need 
much gold." 

Sultan — {Reclining in chair.) "Mizzet, 
you are convincing, your sagacity and fore- 
sight is usually marvelous; but you come to 
me now at a time when I have no idle 
money." {He straightens up, clenches both 
fists and glares a moment down stage, then 
to Hilmat.) "This accurst constitution I 
granted last summer has curtailed my reve- 
nue far more than I anticipated. Why was 
I ever allowed to consent to the demands 
of these impudent upstarts, the so-called 
Committee of Union and Progress. Such 
wisdom as thine, Hilmat, should have fore- 
seen these dire results." {Sinks back in 
chair.) 

Grand Visor — "Your majesty, no one 
dreamed that they would dare entertain the 
prerogatives that they are now assuming, 
but their demands were placed before us at 
a time when we could ill have postponed 



Act I 23 

them further. Peace had to be had at any 
price. The army except that part located at 
Constantinople had been won over, and the 
Young Turks had the sympathy of a vast 
number of people in Albania and elsewhere. 
The cause of the unrest which brought about 
this revolution can be traced far back. The 
real germ was planted when your uncle, Sul- 
tan Abdul Aziz, permitted the establish- 
ment of the Roberts College." {Mizzet 
gets up and walks up and down hack stage, 
smoking.) "For in that American institu- 
tion there has been hatched ideas that now 
permeate the Young Turk Movement in this 
country. It is now too late to fight this 
spirit. We must recognize it and turn it to 
advantage politically rather than lose pres- 
tige by fighting it." 

Sultan — {Impatiently.) "That is just 
what I did do when I granted the damned 
thing and gave out I was its protector; but 
how turn it to advantage to give me funds? 
Formerly I had full control over the Imperial 
Treasury." {Pounds the table.) "I want 
more funds, if with popularity, well and 
good, but have them I shall, with or without 
the popularity." 

Grand Visor — "You still have vested in 
you certain powers, and in lieu of what you 
have done in proclaiming the constitution, 



24 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

the Young Turks would not oppose you in 
exploiting the mines of Asia Minor, devel- 
oping the petroleum fields of Mesopotamia, 
or participating in the railroad project from 
Trebizond on the Black Sea to Alexandretta 
on the Mediterranean. These will all yield 
handsome revenues." 

MizzET Pasha — {Coming before the Sul- 
tan.) "Your Majesty, time is too short to de- 
vise new means of raising revenue. You are 
greatly handicaped in this foolish constitu- 
tion, and if you remember I opposed it bit- 
terly. The simplest and quickest way is to 
repeal it. The control of the finances will 
enable us to launch this stock campaign at 
once, and from it we will gain enough gold 
to build for ourselves the railroad, work the 
mines and exploit the oil fields. We are sure 
to increase many hundred folds our invest- 
ments." {Comes before Sultan, and ex- 
citedly.) "We would revel in a rain of gold. 
This is our big chance ! You are the Sultan 
of the Empire ; 'the Great Calif,' 'Head of all 
Islam,' 'the Shadow of God on Earth.' You 
can do no wrong; your will is Law; Sultan 
of a hundred Sultans, issue without delay an 
Irade repealing the constitution." 

HiLMAT — {Horrified.) "But the people, 
Your Majesty." 

MizzET — "People, Bah!" {Snaps fingers.) 



Act I 25 

''You repealed the constitution your Uncle 
Abdul Aziz granted when you first came to 
the throne and what was the outcome?" 
{Paces to and from front stage.) "They 
bent to your will and will do so again. Hu- 
man nature is human nature. The sterner 
you are with the dog and the woman the 
more they respect and love you : cajole and 
pet them, yield to their every whim, and 
as likely as not you will find the dog snap- 
ping at your hand; and the woman — Bah!" 
(Stops before Sultan and Grand Visor.) "If 
the people revolt we have the army in the 
city, and the Praetorian Guards." 

Grand Visor — "Yes, but the officers, I 
am sure, are all members of the secret com- 
mittee of the Committee of Union and Prog- 
ress, and the poorly paid soldiers cannot be 
counted upon any too well." 

MizzET — {Standing beside his chair.) 
"By that time. Your Majesty, we can buy 
each soldier in the army and wouldn't miss it. 
With gold — baktche — we can control their 
very souls. At our command they will de- 
stroy every officer in the army we name. We 
hold the whip; use it." {Sits down.) 

Sultan — {Arising and to Grand Visor, 
who is about to speak. Both Mizzet and 
Grand Visor arise.) "Enough said. Ever 
since that constitution was passed I have felt 



26 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

whipped and have done nothing but sign com- 
pulsorily Iradi after Iradi, decimating my 
power. I was unduly coerced in acceding to 
it." (To Grand Visor.) ''Call together 
my cabinet of ministers and formulate an 
Iradi repealing in toto the Constitution 
granted last summer. Say to the cabinet that 
the Constitution passed was not sufficiently 
embracive and" {Pause.) "a broader one is 
under consideration by me." {He looks at 
Mizzet.) 

Grand Visor — {Starting to speak and 
holding out his hands in supplication.) 
"But, Your Majesty?" 

Sultan — {Extends right hand, fingers 
up.) "Proceed, your Sultan has spoken." 
{Grand Visor hows and departs, Exit C 
rear door. 

Sultan sits down again and motions Miz- 
zet to do likewise; both light cigarettes.) 

Mizzet — "Well spoken, Your Majesty. 
Give the dogs just a little rope and the next 
thing they will consider will be which of their 
number they desire to nominate for the presi- 
dency." {Both smile. Sultan claps his hand 
and there enters at once a servant from 

L3E.) 

Sultan — "Coffee." {Servant salaams 
and withdraws. Servant is dressed in white, 
red fez with white turban. He wears red 



Act I 27 

sash. He wears baggy trousers that fit close 
to calf of leg from knee to ankle. His coat 
extends below belt, nearly to knees. Coat 
has tight sleeves.) 

Muezzin or Priest — {A voice is heard 
calling in distance from a minaret the faith- 
ful to prayer.) "Allah Akber (4 times), 
Esse ha dou allah-Il laha il-allah (2 times), 
Esse hadou anneh Mohammedan rissool-ul- 
lah. (2 times) Hooyah-ul-fellah (2 times) 
la il lah il allah!" (Mizzet walks to the 
window, RiE, from which the call comes. 
He looks out and returns to the table, picks 
up the telescope and walking back to the win- 
dow looks out through the telescope. The 
Sultan watches him with interest.) 



Author's Note 
muezzin's prayer call in full 

(This is given to the four directions. 
Muezzin walks around the minaret as he 
calls. The call is rendered in high key, sing- 
song tune, more of a wail than a call. It can 
be heard a very long distance. Most Muez- 
zins have beautiful flute-like voices.) The 
call translated is as follows : — 

"Great one, I avow there is no God but 



28 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

God — I avow that Mohammed is his 
prophet. Let us go and pray. Let us go 
save our souls. God is Great, there is no 
God but God." 

Sultan — "I suppose, Mizzet, you will 
now be recommending a new odalisque to my 
harem." 

Mizzet — {Still looking out.) "Not this 
time. I was just thinking how easily an ene- 
my in yonder minaret could, with a high 
power rifle, snuff you off as you here sat by 
the window some balmy day. {He turns 
from window and walks toward table.) You 
see, Your Majesty, your welfare is con- 
stantly in my mind." {Bows.) 

{ The Sultan shows every vestige of fear. 
He draws hack, cringes, squirms, shudders 
and finally with an effort arouses himself and 
fairly rushes to the window, seizing the tele- 
scope from Mizzet as he passes. He takes 
a quick survey with the instrument and then 
lays it on small table by the window and 
claps his hands twice. At once there ap- 
pears an orderly dressed in Albanian sol- 
dier's white uniform, who salutes and bows.) 

Sultan — {Hurriedly and pointing out of 
window.) "Proceed at once to the head priest 
of Ali Hamedi mosque and tell him his Sultan 
disapproves of the architecture of the minaret 
that disgraces the front of his mosque. Com- 



Act I 29 

mand Its Instant destruction." {Orderly 
makes move to go.) "Hold, say a more be- 
coming one win be erected In Its site as a 
gift from his Sultan at some time that will 
suit his Sultan's pleasure." {Orderly starts 
to go, hilt Sultan holds up detaining hand.) 
"Within the hour I want Its obnoxious form 
removed from my vision." 

( The Sultan walks hack to his chair and 
falls hack into it in anguish.) 

Sultan — "The thought that what might 
have happened will torment me sorely. Ah, 
MIzzet, the fear of sudden death with which 
my being is suffused is like a drop of acid 
eating on my brain." {He places hoth hands 
to his temples.) "I think, at times, that my 
brother Beshad, whom I imprisoned many 
years ago, placed a curse on me. Malicious 
and terrible Is the law that decrees that a 
ruler shall be succeeded by his eldest living 
brother instead of his first son. Thus, In- 
stead of mutual love being constant between 
two brothers, hatred is engendered and frat- 
ricide tempted; by one, to satisfy his ambi- 
tion; by the other, as a defense to his 
throne." 

MizZET — {Shrugging shoulders.) "Yes, 
but it Is the law." {He walks to the window 
and looks out.) 

Sultan — {Eyeing him keenly and to him- 



30 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

self, apart.) "My friend Mizzet is getting 
very solicitous. As Richelieu says, 'He bows 
too low.' Back of his words, portraying the 
fondness he conceives for me, he has himself 
foremost in mind. A fine spectacle, the 
Sultan a cat's paw for a knave. I shall con- 
sider carefully before allowing published that 
Irade recalling the Constitution." 

(Enter C Door rear Master of Cere- 
mony. The Sultan looks up inquiringly. 
Master of Cerernony has two cards in his 
hand, which he holds out.) 

Master of Ceremony — "These two men 
come from Paris. They wish to speak to you 
privately. They have the password from 
Monsieur Kuni. They have a third person 
in the carriage whom they state they wish to 
present to you. May I present them?" 

Sultan — "Bring them in." 

{Master of Ceremony hows and departs.) 

Mizzet — "I must be off. I await your 
pleasure in your decision regarding the stock 
campaign. Adieu!" {Salutes Turkish fash- 
ion, giving the tamena.) 

Sultan— "Adieu ! I have the matter 
under consideration." {Looks to the door 
C rear.) 

{Exit Mizzet R3E.) 

{The Master of Ceremony enters C D 
Rear, as Mizzet makes exit through RjE, 



Act I 31 

He brings with him Mess. Bideleux and 
Toriont, and coming down stage presents 
them to the Sultan. The men are young , 
thirty to thirty-five, are dressed in the height 
of Parisian fashion. Both wear frock coats, 
pearl trousers, gray spats, patent leather 
shoes and small mustache cut high off the 
lip. They wear zvhite waistcoats and have 
glasses on black ribbons around their necks.) 

Master of Ceremony — "Your Majesty, 
by your leave, I present to you Monsieur 
Bideleux and Monsieur Toriont, of Paris." 
{Both bow deeply. Master of Ceremony 
bows and departs, exit C D Rear.) 

M. Bideleux — {As spokesman, he stands 
nearest the audience.) "Your Majesty, 
Leader of the Faithful, El Ghazi, Padisha, 
Conqueror, and King of Kings, Imperial 
Sultan of Turkey and all her domains. Foun- 
tain Head of Wisdom and most esthetic 
Appraiser of great beauty, to you, most 
noble Effendi, who, having gathered such 
wonderful flowers, can the more appreciate 
one whose charm, whose beauty, whose grace, 
and whose divinity of form surpasses all 
others as the noonday sun does the starlight; 
I repeat, to you, comes the great fortune of 
being selected by my master, M. KunI, to 
be the recipient of a most incomparable gift." 

Toriont — {Second Emissary.) "Our 



32 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

master, M. Kuni, presents his compliments 
and wishes me to say that of all his honored, 
noble and royal clients it was of you whom he 
thought when his eye was gladdened by the 
first sight of our fair charge." 

Sultan — "Such eloquence must be built 
on well-founded assurances." 

BiDELEUX — "You, honored Sultan, think 
we exaggerate! But, bade us to bring her 
to you, and once your eye feast upon her, you 
will mock us for our stupidity in portrayal." 

TORIONT — {Bowing.) "It is a sacrilege 
to attempt to describe her, Your Majesty I" 

Sultan — "If you are correct in your 
chivalrous laudations, as I presume you must 
be, though what tickles the palate of one man 
may be distasteful to that of another, I am 
afraid my very solicitous friend Kuni will 
expect me to be over generous in my reim- 
bursement for the inconvenience he has sub- 
jected himself and, especially, you two gen- 
tlemen. At present, my exchequer is as 
bare as the proverbial cupboard. Neverthe- 
less, Messieurs, your manner and compli- 
mentary address both please and flatter me. 
It would be rude of me to refuse to receive 
dear Kuni's presentation, and, while I com- 
mit myself in no way, I shall be pleased to 
see what Kuni says is the fairest of the fair." 
{Sultan stands up and waves them to the 



Act I 33 

door C. Rear. Emissaries bow and with- 
draw through D C Rear.) 

(Sultan claps hands once. Servant quickly 
enters from DL^E.) 

Sultan — "My coat, quick." 

{Servant makes hurried exit DL^E. 
The Sultan removes his smoking coat. 
Enter servant L^E with frock coat, takes 
the smoking coat from the Sultan and holds 
frock coat for him, then he withdraws quick- 
ly through same exit, L^E. Sultan walks 
over to glass in R corner rear, smooths his 
coat, and walks down stage to his couch, sits 
down, takes out cigarette, lights match, re- 
flects a moment, shrugs his shoulders.) 

Sultan — "Anyway, it costs nothing to 
have a look." {Lights cigarette.) 

{Servant enters D C rear and stands 
aside, holding back drapery. Enter through 
same door Bideleux and Toriont with young 
girl between them. She wears smart-fitting 
suit that shows a beautiful figure to advan- 
tage, suitable hat, etc. Her veil is pulled 
up from mouth and nose, but nearly shades 
her eyes. The girl is strikingly beautiful. 
She carries herself well. Her hand rests in 
Bideleux's arm, and he and Toriont bring 
her down stage and they present her to 
the Sultan. The Sidtan continues to lean 
hack in his seat and looks at the girl through 



34 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

veiled lids. He blows out a puf of 
smoke,) 

BiDELEUX — "Your Majesty, I present 
with your permission, my charge. Made- 
moiselle Helaine Periot." {Helaine bows 
and the Sultan acknowledges her with slight 
nod. He eyes her keenly and with admira- 
tion.) 

TORIONT — "To be frank with you, Your 
Majesty, this young lady is no ordinary per- 
son. Her father is a nobleman and well 
known in European aristocratic circles. He 
has represented his government in several 
foreign courts, and at present is a member 
of the French Embassy at Berlin. He, in 
some way, became involved in a socialistic 
plot in Germany to make it a Repubhc, con- 
cerning which the Turkish Ambassador 
gained full cognizance. It is therefore in 
your Ambassador's power to ruin him in Ger- 
many and have him discredited in his own 
country. He is completely in the hands of 
your Ambassador, as the plot itself has be- 
come known and its instigators are being 
urgently sought." 

TORIONT — {Smiling clandestinely at Sul- 
tan.) "My Master, M. Kuni, arranged it 
all" {looking knowingly at Bideleux) ^ "that 
is, for Mademoiselle to come here with 
us and ask that word from you that will 



Act I 35 

quickly clear the name of her father. She 
was running away to a nunnery when we 
found her." {Sultan looks surprised.) 

Sultan — {To Helaine, who has been 
standing with head more or less averted to 
avoid the steady gaze the Sidtan had been 
giving her during the above conversation.) 
"Remove your veil and hat, my dear, and 
come over and tell me all about yourself." 

{To Bideleux and Toriont.) "Pray leave 
us for a while. In my study there" {point- 
ing to R3E.) "you win find my secretary 
and servants, who will gratify your every 
wish. Make yourselves comfortable." {To- 
riont and Bideleux bow and make exit 

R3E.) 

{Enter servant L^E with coffee utensils; 
i. e., brass vessel like a stew pan, small cups 
without handles, set in silver holders; round 
coffee mill, cylinder shaped; brass jars con- 
taining sugar and coffee. Sultan takes He- 
laine by the hand and leads her to the 
couch.) 

Sultan — "Please sit on the divan beside 
me while I make you a cup of coffee." 

{Servant sets down the tray on settee in 
front of Sultan, who ^notions him away. 
Servant salaams, makes exit L^E. Sultan 
sits down and lights the spirit lamp.) 

Helaine — {Clasping hands.) "This Is 



36 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

delightful, and odd, having tea with a 
Sultan." 

Sultan— "No, coffee!!" {Both laugh.) 
"Tell me, Mademoiselle, how you met these 
gentlemen" {Places water in brass boiling 
pan, which is on the fire, and begins grinding 
some coffee) "and in what manner you were 
persuaded to come here. You — in a nun- 
nery. This smacks of a romance. Tell me 
about yourself." 

Helaine — "But, Your Majesty, won't 
you remove your fez ? The gentlemen in my 
country, including the nobility, all remove 
their hats in the presence of a lady, espe- 
cially in the house ; otherwise, they show her 
disrespect. Is it not the custom here?" 

Sultan — {Very much amused and laugh- 
ingly.) "Yes, my dear, for gentlemen from 
your country; otherwise, we would be in- 
sulted, but it is not the custom for a Turk. 
You are refreshingly amusing; please pro- 
ceed." {He pours coffee and sugar into the 
pan and stirs it with a ladle.) 

Helaine — "My parents had high ambi- 
tions for me and were anxious that I marry 
a man I did not love. Because of my 
mother's insistence that I marry a certain 
old Duke whom I hated, I ran away and 
was en route to the nunnery of Sacre Cour 
De Blee in Normandy when " 



Act I 37 

Sultan — {Pouring out a cup of coffee 
and handing it to H claim,) "To hide such 
a beautiful face in a nunnery, for shame!" 

Helaine — {Taking coffee.) "You are 
very complimentary, Your Majesty." {Sips 
coffee and makes wry face.) "What odd 
tasting coffee ! Is this the kind you always 
drink?" 

Sultan — {Sipping a cup he has poured 
for himself.) "After you have drank it 
a while you will care for no other. Continue, 
s'il vous plait J' 

Helaine — "There is very little more to 
say." 

Sultan — "Did your father know of 
this?'; 

Helaine — "I sent him a despatch to Ber-' 
lin telling him of my plans and when I would 
execute them unless he intervened and prom- 
ised to let me marry whom I pleased." 

Sultan — {Looking up inquiringly.) 
"So?" 

Helaine — "At Toulon I was met by 
Messieurs Bideleux and Toriont, who said 
that my father had received the despatch 
and would help me, but that he was in trouble 
himself and needed me at once in Berlin, 
and for me to come with them without de- 
lay." 

Sultan — "They had credentials?" 



38 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Helaine — "They showed me a despatch 
which bore my father's name as the signa- 
ture, directing them to intercept me at Tou- 
lon and to bring me at once to Berlin with 
them." 

Sultan — {Inquiringly.) "You went to 
Berlin" {Pause) ^ "but didn't see your 
father?" 

Helaine — {Looking up quickly and say- 
ing hesitatingly.) "No-o, I was carried to 
the Adlon Hotel and there introduced to a 
distinguished elderly gentleman, who ex- 
plained that my father had to leave the city 
hurriedly on account of a serious political 
scandal in which he was involved, but that 
my father had besought him to urge me to 
come directly to Constantinople and present 
myself to you, and to explain that I was his 
daughter and to deliver this document and 
that he felt sure that your instructions to 
the Turkish Ambassador would be such that 
the scandal would be hushed and my father 
would be saved from ruin." 

Sultan — "Where is the document?" 

Helaine — {Taking it from her bosom, 
and giving it to the Sultan.) "Here." 

Sultan — ( Takes it, arises and walks 
front stage, aside.) "Clever Kuni, clever Ku- 
ni. The devil machinates and Kuni executes. 
A finer working pair are yet to be found." 



Act I 39 

{Opens document.) "I see he has not for- 
gotten how to write lurkish." {Reads.) 
"Your Majesty, Kismet still smiles on you. 
See what has befallen thy lucky lot to re- 
ceive. A letter written by this little goddess 
to her father fell into our hands. Her 
beauty is know^n all over northern Europe, 
and her hand in marriage is craved by some 
of our most brilliant noblemen. She will 
grace your harem as never before was graced 
a Turkish harem. She will give to you, if 
you can but win her confidence, greater com- 
panionship than all the ox-eyed beauties from 
the Caucasus and Georgias. Send me the 
beggarly sum of five hundred thousand 
francs, call it cheap, and say the deed has 
been well done. Adieu. Kuni." 

{Whistling, and aside.) "Five hundred 
thousand francs! This must be a price- 
less jewel, or ought to be, and no money 
in the strong box." {Shakes his head.) "Any- 
way, we shall see what we shall see." ( Turns 
to girl.) "Your father is indeed in a serious 
predicament; no dishonorable act on his own 
part, but circumstances are liable to place 
him at the mercy of his enemies. We will 
discuss his affairs a little later. Let me first 
show you around the palace garden." {He 
and Helaine arise. Just then there is heard 
a loud detonation in the distance; both start. 



40 Within the Gates of Yildiz 



The Sultan rushes to the window, RiE.) 
" 'Tis well." {JVipes his brow with a hand- 
kerchief,) "God preserves those who pre- 
serve themselves." {To girl.) " 'Tis noth- 
ing, some workmen blasting on the Bos- 
phorus." 

Helaine — {Looking at the rugs on the 
wall.) "What beautiful rugs; but why do 
you hang them on the wall, instead of pic- 
tures?" 

Sultan — {When Helaine first notices the 
rugs, holds hands in prayer and looks sky- 
ward.) "We Turks never portray in design 
any living objects. It is so decreed in the 
Koran; hence we never make pictures. My 
nomadic ancestors used rugs on the walls of 
their tents to keep out the draughts from 
the crevices, and we being a conservative 
people have been simply following the cus- 
tom from habit. But these are nothing, my 
choicest treasures are in the capital of a 
distant country." 

Helaine— "Indeed?" 

Sultan — {Sadly.) "Aye, my priceless 
old Ghorges, Kirmans, Tabrizes, Dogestans 
and Shrivans, heirlooms and gifts from 
Pshas, Califs, Sheiks, from Persia to Mo- 



rocco." 



Helaine — "Why did you give them up?" 



Act I 41 

Sultan — ''The Empress was my guest; 
she admired them. It's our custom." 

Helaine — "Did you receive no present in 
return?" 

Sultan — {Dryly.) "Oh, yes, regardez." 
{He points to the picture, over door C rear, 
portraying a German and Turkish soldier in 
close embrace.) 

Helaine — {Bursting out laughing.) ''Ex- 
cuse me, I can't help it. It is so absurd it 
makes me laugh." 

Sultan — ^"Don't! It makes me sad. 
Stop laughing, you profane the costliest pic- 
ture in the Turkish Empire." 

Helaine — {Wiping her eyes.) "And 
nothing else?" 

Sultan — "Oh, yes. The marble fountain 
to the people in Stamboul; molding public 
sentiment, my dear. The Bagdad railroad, 
a land route from Berlin to India. It's all 
in the game, but may cause our people a lot 
of bloodshed, sooner or later, and the Eng- 
lish a lot of worry and money." 

Helaine — {Looks at the picture and 
laughs again.) "Why not hang it in the 
fountain?" 

Sultan — "Capital idea." {Laughs. He 
takes her by the arm and leads her to the 
door R3E.) "Now let me show you my 
beautiful garden. In it I have the most 



42 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

wonderful collection of pigeons in the world. 
Some of them are as large as roosters." 

Helaine — {Excitedly.) "Really? I 
should love to see them." {Exeunt RzE.) 

{Enter Raymond McKensie, with Mas- 
ter of Ceremony at C rear. Raymond Mc- 
Kensie is man twenty-eight, tall, blue eyes 
and brown hair, clean shaven and nicely 
dressed in gray suit, fedora hat, gloves, cane 
in hand, tan shoes.) 

Raymond — "The men are not here." 

Master of Ceremony — "They must be 
in this room." {Points to DRsE.) 

Raymond — "Where is His Majesty and 
the young lady?" 

Master of Ceremony — "They are 
promenading in the garden." 

Raymond — "Please inform the two 
Frenchmen that their courier wishes to speak 
to them at once." 

Master of Ceremony — "Their courier? 
Effendi?" 

Raymond — "Yes, they know me as that." 

{Master of Ceremony makes exit R3E. 
Raymond walks to window and looks out 
and shakes his fist at an imaginary foe. Mas- 
ter of Ceremony, accompanied by Bideleux 
and Toriont, eriter from R3E.) 

Bideleux — {Apparently irritated.) "You ! 
I thought we dismissed you at the gate." 



Act I 43 

Raymond — {To Master of Ceremony,) 
''Leave us a moment, please." {Master of 
Ceremony withdraws D C rear.) 

Raymond — "What's the game? I am 
just informed through a secret source that 
you are trying to sell to the Sultan that 
charming young lady we brought here a few 
moments ago. Is that correct?" 

BiDELEUX — {Taken hack.) "That is none 
of your business." 

Raymond — "I'll make it some of my busi- 
ness." 

BiDELEUX — {Walking up to him and glar- 
ing him in the eye^ and sarcastically.) "It 
is like a courier to be a braggadocio at a time 
and place like this where his insolence has a 
chance of going unpunished." {Hisses.) 
"I suppose you want me to ask your price." 

Raymond — {Looking at him in con- 
tempt.) "I am not a courier, and even if 
I were I wouldn't honor you by being in- 
sulted by you." {Takes card from pocket.) 
"Here is my card. I served you out of 
courtesy to the lady, and if she is not safely 
back to the hotel this evening there will be 
hell to pay for you two slick ones." {He 
turns on his hack and walks of exit C rear.) 

BiDELEUX — {Reading the card.) "Ray- 
mond McKensie, Charge d'Affaires, Amer- 
ican Embassy." 



44 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

BiDELEUX — {Whistling in surprise.) "The 
Charge d'Affaires of the American Em- 
bassy!" 

ToRiONT — "He didn't have the air of a 
courier, and I was xery suspicious when he 
refused to receive the pay for his services." 

BiDELEUX — "Well, it might be worse. We 
can rig up a dummy, or take a substitute from 
the Sultan's household and go direct from 
here to the depot to-night." 

ToRiONT — {Smiling.) "These Americans 
are so unique. Imagine a Charge d'Affaires 
of the Embassy acting as a courier to three 
persons he never saw before, simply for the 
love of an adventure." 

BiDELEUX — "He may get one out of it. 
Damn him!" 

Curtain 



ACT II 

Scene i — Sublime Porte-Ministers' Chamber 
Time — Afternoon Same Day 

(Plain room, finished in oak. Door at 
LiE and double doors at center rear. Large 
table at R of center on which are placed 
ten portfolios containing writing materials. 
Tables run up and down stage. Seated at 
the table in heavy oak chairs are as follows: 
Emvers Bey — The Minister of War. 
Ahmed Bey — The Minister of the Interior. 
IsMED Pasha — The Minister of Finance. 
Talat Bey — The Minister of the Marine. 
KiAMiL Pasha — The Minister of Foreign 
A fairs. 

All the ministers wear frock coats and red 
fezzes. They are tall and dignified, and zuear 
beards, all more or less gray, except the Min- 
ister of War, who is seated at left of table 
and is nearest front stage. He has before 
him a stack of telegrams. The Minister of 
War is young man with small black mus- 
tache. He is a secret member of the myste- 
rious Young Turk Committee of Union and 
45 



46 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Progress, The other ministers lean to the 
old Sultan and are at heart enemies to the 
Young Turks.) 

Minister of War, Emvers Bey — "Gen- 
tlemen, I have here dispatches from various 
parts of the Empire, mostly from Vilayets in 
Albania, Macedonia, describing petty upris- 
ings, uneasiness among the people, and bud- 
ding revolutions which are being suppressed 
as fast as they are recognized. Shall my 
instructions to the commandants in charge be 
that they are promptly to shoot the ring 
leaders and confiscate their property for the 
state, to arrest all suspects and after trial to 
banish them if evidence is not strong enough 
to convict, so that to make sure justice has 
not miscarried?" 

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kiamil 
Pasha — "I am afraid that is only skimming 
the surface. I believe the people of troubled 
Albania are being abetted in their unrest by 
the Bulgarians, Servians, Greeks, and per- 
haps likewise by the Montenegrins. My 
spies in these named countries all tell me that 
feverish military preparations are now go- 
ing on. It is only a question of time when a 
proper understanding will be reached among 
them and they will use as a pretext any sub- 
stantial revolt in Albania to join forces with 
the Insurgents against us." 



Act II Al 

Minister of Interior, Ahmed Bey — "If 
we had good roads, or even passable ones, so 
that the country at large could enjoy a free 
interchange of commerce, so that the natives 
from different parts, by mingling, could ex- 
change ideas, the Empire would then become 
more unified and a better understanding 
would arise, and these troublesome little up- 
risings would end; but I need funds to carry 
out this road and bridge construction propa- 
ganda." 

Minister of Marine, Talat Bey — "Al- 
bania is fated to become a seat of trouble. 
Austria for a long time has had covetous eyes 
upon her, and nothing would suit the Black 
Eagle better than to see a revolution start 
that we could not suppress, so she would have 
the pretext of stepping in to police it for us 
in order to safeguard the interest of her resi- 
dent subjects. Behold the fate of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina." 

Minister of War, Emvers Bey — "This 
inaction on our part is simply encouraging 
our enemies to unite against us." {To the 
Minister of State.) "May we not agitate 
again the question of Crete and bring it to an 
issue? 

"Let us demand from Greece an ulti- 
matum regardless of the Powers' demands of 
the maintenance of the 'Status Quo' to the 



48 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

situation. By taking the offensive at this time 
and thoroughly thrashing Greece, which I am 
satisfied we can do, we can then so intimi- 
date the Servians, Montenegrins and Bul- 
garians that their ideas of war will be dis- 
pelled. A successful war with Greece will 
stir up patriotism in Albania and unite her 
completely. We can thus intimidate these 
States, and at the same time unite Albania 
through patriotism with the rest of the 
Empire. Nothing would do this so well 
as a war, and especially a victorious one. 
We, in this way, can put off perhaps for an- 
other generation a disastrous war against the 
combined Balkan States. They have not yet 
forgotten our previous victories over them, 
and they remember full well the terrible Turk 
when he fights. To delay this is suicidal. 
Every month, yes, every week, gives strength 
and better understanding to our enemies." 

Minister of Marine, Talat Bey — 
"From the last report our treasury lacked 
the funds to wage a war, and, as you know, 
our borrowing power just at this time is at 
a low ebb." {To Minister of Finance.) 
''Ismed, in what financial condition are we 
now to wage war on Greece?" 

Minister of Finance, Ismed Pasha — 
*'In no condition as yet. Our increased 
revenue derived from the constitution we se- 



Act II 49 

cured last summer from the Sultan has been 
going to pay back interest on old loans and 
for certain civic improvements, which must 
be made immediately. For instance, a num- 
ber of the pontoons under the Galata bridges 
are in a bad condition and are about to sink, 
so they are being replaced." 

Minister of Interior, Ahmed Bey — "A 
number of bridges in the interior must be 
rebuilt if we do not want fresh revolts. The 
people grumble about heavy taxes and no 
benefits. With the advent of the constitu- 
tion they expected magical changes all at 
once." 

{Knock is heard on Door C Rear.) 
Minister of Marine. — "Enter." 
{Door opens and page appears.) 
Page — {After saluting.) "Javid Bey, 
Deputy from Salonika, is without and seeks 
presentation. May I admit him?" 

{Ministers look at each other a moment 
and no one seemingly is opposed to the re- 
quest.) 

Minister of Marine, Talat Bey — 
"Present the Effendi." 

{Exit Page. He appears with J avid Bey, 
who is a slender built man about thirty-five 
years old. He wears gray sack suit, fez, 
slight mustache and eye-glasses. He is an 
important member of the secret head com- 



50 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

mittee of the reform party, the Committee 
of Union and Progress.) 

Javid Bey — {Coming down stage after 
saluting and receiving in return salutes from- 
the ministers.) "Good-day, gentlemen. 
Ah, I perceive the Grand Visor is absent." 
{He stands at L, front stage.) 

Minister of War, Emvers Bey — "We 
expect him any moment. He sent word for 
us to proceed with business in hand as mat- 
ters at Yildiz would perhaps detain him. 
What have you to place before us, friend 
Javid?" 

Javid Bey — "I have here bills that I wish 
to present before you and the Chamber of 
Deputies pertaining to the resurrection of 
old Turkey, so that we shall be styled no 
longer the Sick Man of Europe, but instead, 
the Rejuvenated One." 

{He takes a stack of folded papers from 
his pocket and reads the inscriptions written 
on the back of each.) 

"These are for the establishment of — 
a municipal telephone system; electric light 
plant; electric car system; new bridge over 
the Golden Horn " 

Minister of Finance, Ismed Pasha — 
{Smiling.) "With what funds, pray suggest, 
can these expensive plans be enacted?" 

Javid Bey — "If a city of over a million 



Act II 51 

souls has no means of erecting these plants, 
we can easily sell the rights to foreigners to 
do so. There Is not another city In the world 
with so many natural advantages as Con- 
stantinople that Is so poorly conducted In 
respect to the comforts of modern facilities. 
Why, a company would get rich quickly If we 
would allow It to monopolize an electric car 
system, lighting plant, telephone system or a 
new toll bridge. Do you know that over 
one hundred and fifty thousand people pass 
dally over that ramshackle old Galata bridge, 
to and fro from Stamboul?" {Pause — looks 
at another paper,) "Here Is a bill to do 
away with the dogs of Constantinople." {All 
the ministers look at each other and laugh,) 
Minister of Marine, Talat Bey — 
"Your reforms are sweeping, Mr. Deputy 
from Salonika, but as a politician. Is it wise 
to stir up a row against yourself and against 
the administration by such a drastic and radi- 
cal act as doing away with the dogs of the 
city? They are Constantinople's oldest in- 



stitution." 



Javid Bey — ^"Nevertheless, they must go. 
Breeders of disease, mangy and flee bitten, 
they are a loathsome sight and form the only 
blot on this beautiful spot Allah has given 
us. If we do not annihilate them, we can at 
least place them on an island, and there all 



$2 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

dog lovers can go and carry them food, but 
it is more humane to kill them. I know of a 
suitable island near Prinka Poo." 

Minister of Marine, Talat Bey — 
*'And the refuse of the city — has your fertile 
brain likewise devised some scheme of re- 
moving this?" 

Javid Bey — "Like any other city of 
Europe, by carts and wagons. We enjoy the 
privilege of making necessary expenditures 
for the good of the city under our consti- 
tution." 

{At the word ^^wagons^' the Grand Visor 
has entered the room hurriedly from DR2E, 
and goes to his chair at the head of the table. 
At the mention of the Constitution, he stops 
a moment before sitting down and says to 
Javid Bey.) 

Grand Visor Hilmat Pasha — "What is 
that about the Constitution?" {Seats him- 
self,) 

Minister of Finance Ismed Pasha — 
"Javid Bey has been enlightening us with the 
way in which he intends to reform the com- 
monwealth, the last, which he was explaining 
as you came in, was a proposal to extermi- 
nate or maroon on an island all the dogs of 
the city and replace the scavenger service 
with a modern European white wing equip- 



Act II 53 

ment, the same to be installed and supported 
by the city." (All laugh.) 

Grand Visor Hilmat Pasha — "With 
the additional income for civic improvements 
granted by the Constitution, eh? Well, the 
Sultan has commanded me that he wants us to 
draw up an Irade recalling the Constitution 
in toto, same to be sent to him at once for 
his perusal and signature." {Consternation 
is shown in faces of Emvers Bey and J avid 
Bey. They look from one to the other.) 

Minister of War, Emvers Bey — 
{Walking over to J avid — aside.) *'I see in 
this the fine Italian hand of Mizzet, who re- 
turned from England this morning." 

Javid Bey — {His face white and tense y 
fists clenched — aside.) "A bad day's work 
when we let him get away." 

Minister of War, Emvers Bey — 
{Aside.) "Well, brother?" 

Javid Bey — {Aside.) "It is as I feared. 
Only one thing, war, and to the end." 

Minister of War, Emvers Bey — 
{Aside.) "We can't go back to the old or- 
der. The Empire wouldn't last a year." 

Javid Bey — {To ministers.) "The spirit 
we need in the Empire to make men of us, 
instead of puppets, is to be sure we are right 
and then go ahead, regardless of conse- 
quences. Shall we see Turkey cut into piece- 



54 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

meal, and fed to the Vultures of Europe who 
sit by patiently waiting the death rattle be- 
fore gouging themselves with bits of our fair 
country, so fertile and productive that in spite 
of the enormous drains made upon her, in 
spite of the ignorance, superstition and the 
drawbacks of misgovernment of hundreds of 
years, she manages to live and keep her in- 
dependence? 

"There is not another nation in the 
world that would have preserved its integrity 
so long under similar conditions. For our 
national existence this Constitution must not 
be revoked." 

( The Grand Visor , while J avid Bey was 
talking, took a document from his pocket, 
sighted it and passed it along to the various 
ministers, who in turn read and signed it. 
The Minister of Finance reads and signs it.) 

Minister of Finance, Ismed Pasha — 
"Javid, here is the Irade, recalling the Con- 
stitution, drawn up and signed by the minis- 
ters, as requested by his Majesty. It is now 
ready for his perusal and signature before 
becoming a law." {Sarcastically.) "Per- 
haps your eloquence may convince his Maj- 
esty of the error of his ways, and you may 
take it to him and persuade him not to sign 
it — eh, Hilmat?" {Hilmat nods. Ismed 
passes the document to the Minister of War. 



Act II 55 

The Minister of War, after signing the docu- 
ment, gives it to Hilmat and then walks to 
L. C. to J avid Bey.) 

Minister of War, Emvers Bey — 
{Aside, pleadingly.) "It will do no good, but 
will make you a marked man, and we need 
you." 

Javid Bey — {Aside.) "Yes, but I shall 
take it to him. God help me to convince him 
of his injustice before it is too late to do so 
by peaceful means." 

Grand Visor, Hilmat Pasha — {Wav- 
ing the document.) "Well, Javid, how about 
it?" 

Javid Bey — {TValking over to the Grand 
Visor, taking the document from him and 
ramming it in his inside breast pocket.) "I 
shall take it to him." {He turns on his heel 
and makes exit L2E. The others look at 
each other. Minister of Finance and Grand 
Visor laugh.) 

Curtain 

Scene 2 — The Garden of Yildiz 
Time — Later, Same Afternoon 

{The garden is on a hillside, and in the 
distance over the low wall in the background 
can be seen the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn 
and Stamboul, with many minarets and 



S6 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

domes of mosques against the sky; and, in 
the dim distance, the shore line of Asia^ 
Minor. On the top of the wall there are 
little turrets at intervals for sentries, and 
one of these {Practical) is larger than the 
others and is near the front stage, RiE. The 
interior of it is visible. On the other side of 
stage at LiE and L2E is seen a wing {Prac- 
tical) of Yildiz Kiosh, the Sultan's palace. 
The front windows downstairs are of the 
French variety, tiny panes, etc., and are in 
panel efect. The doors are in the same style. 
The upstairs windows are latticed. A small 
uncovered stone porch extends few feet be- 
fore the door. Steps lead to the ground. 
At left of steps down stage is placed a wicker 
bench. Stage is set with shrubbery, trees, 
flower beds and lawn between. There is a 
winding lagoon which enters R2E, goes to 
C and exit R4E. A moment after the rise 
of the curtain a water tricycle makes its ap- 
pearance around a bend in the lagoon, from 
right of stage. This is an arrangement built 
like a small raft with a bench on it and a 
pedal arrangement by means of which a 
small paddle wheel is operated astern. The 
tricycle is steered by a steering bar. In the 
tricycle is seated the Sultan and Helaine.) 

Helaine — "I think your garden wonder- 
ful. It is almost magical. Such pigeons, and 



Act II 57 

those beautiful dogs I I am afraid that 
such a lover of pets cannot be the Red 
Sultan Europe has painted you. A person 
would be willing to forego the delights of 
travel and the pleasures of city life to be al- 
lowed to dream in such heavenly environ- 
ment." 

Sultan — {Stopping the tricycle,) "I be- 
lieve you are becoming inoculated with the 
bacilli of the Bosphorus." 

Helaine — (Inquiringly.) "Bacilli of the 
Bosphorus?" 

Sultan — "Yes, strangers come to Con- 
stantinople and find men and even families 
well educated, wealthy and normal, who have 
never been away from the Bosphorus, and 
can not be persuaded to leave, regardless of 
the alluring portrayal by travelers of the 
fascination of witnessing the interesting 
sights to be seen in foreign places. I feel 
the same way. We are too satisfied with our 
lot, and after strangers stay here a while 
they find it more and more difficult to leave. 
Thus the derivation of the expression, 'Ba- 
cilli of the Bosphorus.' " 

Helaine — "How interesting!" (Naive- 
ly.) "You must not show me any more of 
your wonderful things, or I, myself, might 
become Inoculated and want to remain." 



58 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

(He helps her from the tricycle, and they 
advance down stage.) 

Sultan — {Pointedly.) "Would that be 
so very terrible?" 

Helaine — {Laughingly.) "It might be 
for both of us." 

Sultan — "Now, if you will come into 
my reception Salon I will show you what I 
consider a remarkable collection of porcelain. 
I have a mania for collecting those things 
which interest me. I cannot visit the mu- 
seums of the world, so I bring them to me 
and own them. It is the same with plays. 
I have those that I think will interest me 
produced in my theater here at Yildiz, so 
you see we are not so isolated from the world 
as one may think." 

Helaine — {Pointing to tower or small 
turret on the wall RiE.) "What is that odd 
little house perched up there on the wall?" 
{Laughter is heard from within the Pal- 
ace L.) 

Sultan — "It seems your friends are be- 
ing well entertained; if you are willing, we 
will go up into the little turret and watch the 
moon come up from behind Scutari, the little 
town on the Asiatic side. It will be full 
to-night, and early. When you see her ap- 
pear over Stamboul, bringing out in bold 
relief the minarets of San Sofia and other 



Act II 59 

mosques, and her beams illuminating the gen- 
tle waters between Stamboul and Galata, you 
will see why we call the inlet the Golden 
Horn. I believe you will also tell me that 
you hav^e never seen in all your travels a 
more beautiful sight." 

Helaine — "By all means, let's go up." 
( The Sultan takes her arm and they go up 
the stairs and sit in the turret.) 

Sultan — "It is from this little turret I 
watch the world, my world. Being a Sultan 
has many drawbacks, the greatest of which 
is seclusion. We rulers are but human be- 
ings. Living alone apart from our fellow 
beings makes us all more or less queer; too 
much introspection and flattery begets ego- 
tism. This has not the tendency to keep us 
balanced, and we become bigoted and im- 
agine strange things." {He taps his head 
with his fingers.) "All of us rulers get it 
sooner or later." 

Helaine — {Laughingly.) "And you?" 
Sultan — "With me? My form of in- 
sanity gives way to horrible fear of a sud- 
den death by violence, and this fear is always 
upon me. I will take you into my confidence. 
Do you see that window?" {Points to win- 
dow on lower floor of the palace.) "Many 
nights I have placed a dummy of myself 
there in bold relief with a strong light behind 



6o Within the Gates of Yildiz 

it, and have waited all night here, or in the 
little kiosh around the corner, heavily 
armed, awaiting an attack from some un- 
known foe. I have a most complete shoot- 
ing gallery in the grounds and practise daily 
with a revolver and with high-power rifles, 
and am now an expert shot. I rarely sleep 
at night in the same place in succession, and 
many times sleep in one of the small kioshes 
you see around the garden, where I feel I 
will be least suspected to be found. I main- 
tain in the harbor a yacht always under 
steam, and from my private study I have 
a secret passage, known only to myself, that 
leads to a point opposite to where my yacht 
is moored." 

Helaine — ''You are wonderfully interest- 
ing. It is like a book, a very fascinating 
one; but why the secret passage?" 

Sultan — ''Oh, some day my subjects may 
tire of awaiting my death. I am not popular 
here." {Stage grows dimmer. Lights begin 
to twinkle in the distance. Stage becomes 
dark. The moon begins to appear over 
Asia.) 

Helaine — {Excitedly.) "There comes 
the moon; doesn't it rise rapidly?" 

{Neither speaks for a moment.) 

Sultan — "In that direction is our future, 
Asia. We have done our best in Europe and 



Act II 6 1 

now our power is on the wane. There {he 
points)^ ah I Asia! Moslem from Persia to 
China, from China to Arabia, Arabia to the 
Soudan, Egypt to Morocco; undeveloped, 
wonderfully rich in mineral wealth and fer- 
tility of the soil; oh, Asia, with your latent 
potentialities, when your Aladdin's lamp is 
rubbed, what greatness will be thine I" 
{Turns towards West.) "Europe, our pos- 
sessions here were won with the sword, and 
by the sword will some day be taken from us. 
Moslem and Christian cannot unify, and it 
takes unity in a nation to make it great. 
Helaine, I suppose you think that I am a very 
peculiar old man. I am." {He sits down 
and takes her hand.) "Do you know that 
this is the first time I can appreciate why 
you Europeans say we Turks do not know 
the true meaning of love." {Sighs.) "I 
think that I can now understand how it is 
with them to be contented with one woman 
through life as confidant, companion, mis- 
tress and wife. I hope, my dear, that you 
will believe me when I tell you that you are 
the first woman whom I have ever met with 
whom I cared to discuss such personal mat- 
ters as I have with you. Somehow, I felt 
that you would understand. Your Western 
men seek, select, and then have the sport of 
conquest and rivalry in mating. We, Sultans, 



62 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

take what we can buy, or what is chosen for 
us for political or personal reasons. My 
wives are of no intellectual companionship to 
me. They were not selected by me from out 
of many and with the pleasure of wooing. 
They look upon me as their lord and master 
and not as their equal and do not crave equal 
rights. Hence, I have never respected the 
sex. Consequently, I have been refused the 
delightful companionship a man and woman 
of equal mental attainment enjoy together." 

Helaine — "I appreciate the great comph- 
ment you have paid me and understand for 
the first time your point of view. I will tell 
you frankly that I have always looked upon 
you with abhorrence, as the terrible Turk, 
drowning women as it suited your fancy and 
murdering Christians when the mood struck 
you." 

Sultan — {Laughingly.) "I guess there is 
more truth than poetry in what they say but 
I am not as bad as I am painted." 

Helaine — "It is now getting late and we 
must return to the hotel. My afternoon has 
been delightful and I never shall forget you. 
Will you please promise that you will instruct 
your Ambassador not to divulge the informa- 
tion he has concerning my father?" 

Sultan — {Taking both hands of Helaine 
in his and looking at her steadily.) "Helaine, 



Act II 63 

you are to me the most beautiful and most 
wonderful woman in the world. If I do this 
thing will you remain here with me? You 
need not be afraid of me. You can take me 
as your companion, your friend; or if you 
will do me the great honor, I will make you 
the favorite wife of my harem and your every 
wish will be a command. You can have your 
own household, horses, pets, and girl friend 
visitors if you desire any. I will make you 
mistress of Dolma Bagtche, the most marvel- 
ous palace in the world. In it, there is a stair- 
case built completely of crystal. There was 
nothing left undone to make it as beautiful as 
the finest artists of the world could make it. 
If we tire of it here, my yacht is always in 
readiness and we can drift around as our 
fancy suits us. My dear, I may be old enough 
to be your father, and if I cannot make you 
love me, you will always respect me. Oh, 
won't you stay?" 

Helaine — "This is indeed sudden and 
takes away my breath and thoughts. You 
speak nobly, but I dislike the term of barter. 
You make your offer to free my father of 
scandal conditionally on the terms that I re- 
main with you. Would this not spoil the no- 
bility of the deed if it had to be bought with 
my being?" 



64 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Sultan — "Regardless of your father, will 
you stay?" 

Helaine — {Looking at him steadily and 
hesitatingly. One of the latticed windows, 
UfViE, is opened. A woman's head is seen 
for a moment. A soft heart-rending sob 
is heard. Helaine sees and hears, but the 
Sultan does not.) 

Helaine — {Shuddering and standing up.) 
"Such incarceration would run me mad. 
Your ways, my dear Sultan, prettily as you 
have painted them, are not my ways. We 
could not remain on a plane of mutual un- 
derstanding. We have been raised too differ- 
ently. We think differently. What is right 
in your eyes is horribly wrong in mine. What 
is right in my eyes would be intolerable in 
yours. Let us not become sentimental, 
please." {She places her hand upon his arm, 
and then laughingly.) "It must be the moon. 
Oh, look now at the wonderful picture. If 
I could only paint that. The picturesque pon- 
toon bridge over the moonlit Golden Horn, 
with the mosques on the hills of Stamboul in 
the background. It is exquisite." {She clasps 
her hands.) 

Sultan — {Arising and taking her by the 
arm he turns her towards him.) "Ah, yes, it 
is indeed beautiful, but it pales into insignifi- 
cance by your wondrous beauty, dear Helaine. 



Act II 65 

Do you know that when I first beheld your 
charming and graceful figure, I didn't care 
to see your face" {Pause.) , "but when I saw 
your face, I forgot your figure." {Pause.) 
{ Takes both her hands in his.) "And when — 
and when I looked into your eyes, I forgot 
your face, I forgot existence. Helalne, God 
put a curse on man when he made your eyes. 
Oh! say you will stay with me." 

Helaine — {Much perturbed.) "Oh, your 
Majesty, you frighten me with your beauti- 
ful love making." {Puts her hands to her 
face.) "I am afraid the moon is likewise 
turning my head. It is all so beautifully 
romantic like Omar Khayyam's poem. Have 
you similar Turkish poets?" 

Sultan — "Many, and most of their 
poems treat of youth, beauty, and love. 

There grew a rose more wonderful than ever 

Sadi sang. 
Its loveliness, occult and strange, a rapture 

and a pang. 
Its petals had the pulsing touch that shakes 

the blood with fire. 
In its warm depths was the avatar of unas- 

suaged desire, 
Hid scents and hushed Seraglio dreams were 

in its subtle breath. 



66 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

The madness of Maenad's joy, the tender- 
ness of death. 
Its soul was all the mystic east. 
Its heart was all the South. 
'Til love and tenderness transmuted it 
To the dark rose of your mouth." 

Helaine — "Oh — beautiful." {He tries 
to draw her towards him,) {Agitated.) 
*'Don't — behave! and you must not talk to 
me in this manner again to-night." {She pulls 
away and runs quickly down the steps closely 
followed by the Sultan. As she reaches front 
stage she turns to Sultan.) "Please take me 
to my escorts!" 

Sultan — "You must hsten to me. I have 
been fairer to you than ever before to a 
woman. A side to my nature that I never 
before knew existed until you brought it out, 
has been revealed, and I will continue to be 
frank with you. You will appreciate it later 
if not now. I don't want you under any form 
of deceit; I respect you too highly for that, 
but have you I must and shall. My will has 
gone too long unbridled to now be thwarted. 
It is impossible." {More rapidly.) "Your 
father is not in trouble. Your letter to him 
was intercepted by the most unscrupulous 
band of crooks on the continent. You were 
dilped and brought here to me as a prize for 



Act II 67 

sale for 500,000 francs, and as Kuni said, 
'cheap at the price.' " 

Helaine — {During the above recital He- 
laine has been backing across the stage with 
the Sultan following her and fairly hurling 
the words at her, but she stops and now 
straightens up to her full height and with fire 
in her eyes she in turn hurls defiance.) "If 
you dare to do this awful thing it will be your 
undoing, so help me God! I feel it in every 
cell of my body. A woman's intuition is as 
unexplainable as it is correct. A great hue 
and cry will be raised for me all over Europe. 
Rewards offered will surpass many times your 
paltry 500,000 francs. My government will 
blow your little old ginger-bread palace into 
atoms. Stand aside, and let me pass, you 
monster!" 

Sultan — {Seizing her by both wrists.) 
"You are beautiful always, but when you are 
angry your beauty is not earthly, it is hellish, 
and sets my blood on fire. Helaine, I will 
have you even if I knew for sure the penalty 
would be" {Slowly.) "that every shred of 
flesh be stripped from my bones, every artery 
a shooting pang, and my soul eternally 
damned." {He grabs her and crushes her 
to his breast and showers her face with 
kisses. She struggles fiercely and finally 
partly freeing herself she seizes his beard 



68 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

with her left hand and rains slaps on his face 
with her right hand, screams and then faints.) 

SuLTx^N — {Rubbing his face, after laying 
her gently on the ground.) "Such spirit, such 
fire, such a nature, will rejuvenate me and 
keep warm for a long time this old blood of 
mine. My heart is beating like that of a 
youth of twenty." {Claps his hands a 
couple of times. A big eunuch appears and 
deeply salaams.) "Place her in the top 
dairi of Dolma Bagtche, the one without 
windows and guard her well if you do not 
want tortures unbelievable heaped upon 
your head." 

{Eunuch salaams again and taking He- 
laine up in his arms makes exit L2E through 
palace door. 

The Sultan, rubbing his face, goes to the 
small wicker outdoor bench LiE by steps of 
palace and sits down, reflects, rubs his face 
again, gets up, lights a cigarette, walks across 
stage toward RiE. Blows out puff smoke — 
rubs face — shrugs shoulders, laughs and 
makes exit RiE.) 

Curtain 



Act II 69 

Scene 3 — Shooting Gallery in the Garden of 
Yildiz 

Time — early next day 

( There is shown in this scene part of the 
garden on stage R, and at hack a brick wall 
with small gate in it between C rear and right 
corner rear. From L C to wings on the left 
is shown the interior of shooting gallery. 
This is rigged up as a one-story affair with 
targets shown in distant rear. These are 
regular bull's-eye targets, and also a target 
made the size of a man in profile which is 
placed closer to front of gallery than the 
bull's-eye targets. A counter runs partly 
across the gallery from left to right and on 
this counter is placed miniature targets which 
indicate just where the bullets hit the distant 
targets when they are fired upon. A bench 
is placed at extrefne left end of gallery. 
Against each side of the center of the counter 
is a rack containing revolvers and numerous 
rifles. 

At rise of curtain, there is no one on the 
stage. A moment later the Sultan comes in 
from R3E along the path. He wears his 
brown lounging gown, and walks as if in a 
pensive mood. He walks into the gallery, 
takes a look around, and picks up a rifle and 



70 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

shoots three times very quickly at a target. 
The indicator on the counter shows the bull's- 
eye was rimmed three times. He tears out the 
sheet, examines the record, and as he tears 
it up — he smiles. He then picks up two of 
the pistols and aims them at the target made 
in the figure of a man, and shooting with both 
hands at once empties the chambers of both 
guns as fast as he can pull the triggers. He 
leans over the low counter to examine the re- 
sult of his work. 

Mizzet Pasha appears at this point from 
R3E, pauses a moment and then walks hur- 
riedly to the gallery and enters, bowing and 
giving the Turkish salute.) 

Mizzet — "Good morning, your Majesty, 
how many have you sent to their perdition 
this morning?" 

Sultan — {Turning around.) "Mizzet, I 
can now hit that image every time, even with 
my eyes shut. I beheve I will have a con- 
trivance rigged up so I can shoot at the run- 
ning figure of a man. How do ^^ou suggest 
it can be done?" 

Mizzet — "Is it for this that you sent for 
me so early? I flattered myself that it was on 
a matter of either state or finance." 

Sultan — {Laying down the pistols.) 
"Tush, your mind runs to money as fleas to 
a dog. I sent for you to ask if your stock 



Act II 71 

campaign Is fully planned, and ready for the 
launching. Something happened yesterday 
that decided me fully In this matter of revok- 
ing the Constitution." 

MizzET — "Everything is In readiness. I 
only await your order." 

Sultan — "How great a sum will be neces- 
sary?" 

MizzET — "That depends on how great a 
scale we operate. It Is my present idea to 
start with a fair short line of stocks, and then 
to continue to sell until the market breaks 
three points. Then watch to see If there is 
a reaction. If the market rallies over three 
points, we will wait until a soft spot develops 
and then again sell It off three points; we can 
then gradually work It off a few fractions or 
so every day. It will not be long before we 
will begin to catch stop loss orders and get a 
following on the bear side that will help the 
thing along. After we have accumulated the 
line of short stock desired we can then start 
a bear propaganda through the press and oth- 
erways, and develop a loss of confidence In 
the stocks In which we are operating. It will 
be an easy matter to drop it sharply when the 
longs try to unload and we can take in our 
short stock at practically our own prices." 

Sultan — "How much will be needed for 
the initial outlay?" 



72 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

MizzET — "About eighty thousand Turkish 
pounds." 

Sultan — ( Taking from his pocket a wal- 
let from which he takes out several slips and 
signs them with a fountain pen which he takes 
from his vest pocket.) "Here are orders on 
the Bank of England, Bank of France, Bank 
of Berlin and Bank of Holland for 20,000 
pounds each." {He extends them to Mizzet, 
who takes them.) "I am taking this from 
my reserve fund, as it is a little too early to 
extract from the domestic strong box. It will 
take a few weeks to get things running in the 
good old way, but I am expecting any moment 
this morning the Irade from the ministers for 
my signature, which will repeal the accursed 
thing." 

Mizzet — {Placing the four slips in his 
wallet.) "I shall send the despatches at 
once." 

Sultan — {Picking up a high-powered 
rifle.) "If I hit that small target yonder we 
shall have success; if I miss it, we shall per- 
haps lose." {Takes long aim and fires.) 

Mizzet — {Laughing.) "Superstition." 
{/It the crack of the rifle, the indicator at the 
Sultan's elbow registers, and the record shows 
that the bullet has rimmed the bull's-eye. The 
Sultan brings the target forestage.) 



Act II 73 

Sultan — *'Now, what do you think of 
this? Half of the bullet is in the bull's-eye, 
and half is outside." 

MizzET — "It looks as if we were going to 
do both, win and lose." 

Sultan — "Anyway, the die is cast." 

(Enter RsE J avid Bey. He is shown in 
by Master of Ceremony and brought to the 
shooting gallery. Javid stands outside while 
Master of Ceremony enters, salaams deep- 
ly, and announces.) 

Master of Ceremony — "Your Majesty, 
Javid Bey, Deputy from Salonika, is with- 
out." 

Sultan — {Vexed.) "This is my recrea- 
tion hour, and no business will be entertained 
by me at this time. What means this viola- 
tion?" 

Master of Ceremony — "Your Majesty 
left word with me this morning to send you 
at once any word or message from the Grand 
Visor. This gentleman says he comes from 
him and says he must deliver himself the mes- 
sage to you." 

Sultan — "Admit him." {Javid Bey is 
admitted. He salaams, giving the turkish sa- 
lute, the tamena. Master of Ceremony bows 
and withdraws, exit R3E. ) 

Javid Bey — "Your Majesty, I regret 
deeply to cause you the annoyance of my 



74 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

presence at this hour, but I was commissioned 
by the Ministers to bring a certain document 
to you, and crave to speak a word to you in 
private." 

MizzET — {Bowing to Sultan and to Ja- 
vid.) "Pray excuse me, I shall leave at 
once." 

Sultan — "Until later." 

MizzET — "Au revoir." 

Javid Bey — {Taking from his pocket a 
document and extending it to the Sultan.) 
"Here is the Irade prepared at your com- 
mand by your Ministers. It is now ready for 
your signature." ( The Sultan takes the docu- 
ment, opens it, and sits down on small bench 
at L of counter and reads it intently, nodding 
his head as he reads. He takes out fountain 
pen and starts to sign the paper.) 

Javid Bey — "Before signing that decree, 
I crave a few words with you, O, Sultan, as 
Is my right under that Constitution which you 
are about to destroy." 

Sultan — {Looking up.) "Yes, but to re- 
place it with a broader one." 

Javid Bey — "This one suits us, your Maj- 
esty, and in destroying it you must realize 
you are killing a nation's beautiful hope, the 
hope to it as that to a dying man who has 
been promised life, as that to a tongue 
parched with thirst that has been promised 



Act II 75 

water, as that to a soul in damnation which 
has been promised resurrection." 

Sultan — "Your manners amuse me, and I 
shall hear you out. But in the beginning, I 
say it will do no good. My mind is made 
up. I further warn you to be careful." 

Javid Bey — "Your Majesty, to us who 
light so hard for opportunities, compared 
with you who have them thrust upon you, it 
is a pitiful sight to see them go so neglected. 
You are the head of the Empire, the head of 
the Church, ruler over land and sea, body 
and soul, and you can make or ruin a nation. 
Oh, Sultan, consider us, your subjects. If you 
could but realize that this dumb subjugation 
is stifling our national ambition, our hope, our 
love of country, and our love of you. Your 
Majesty, you have great wisdom, great- 
er than your smartest enemies give you 
credit. With your wisdom, can't you per- 
ceive that by allowing the Constitution to re- 
main in effect the Empire will be built up, 
commerce will expand, the country will grow 
up in importance, old industries will be re- 
vived, and new ones spring up. Our country, 
so rich in possibilities, will blossom out like 
a rose, and be in truth one of the richest in 
the world. Sufficient time has not elapsed 
since summer to do much transformation, but 
give us time to awake from the long state of 



76 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

lethargy, and allow us to realize that we wear 
no longer the yoke of suppression, and we 
shall develop like magic. With the increased 
national wealth, your wealth will increase, 
double and multiply many times. Your name 
will go down from generation to generation, 
second in honor to none save that of Moham- 
med. Kill the hope now in the repeal of this 
Constitution, you can never revive it with fu- 
ture promises and I predict that we Young 
Turks will live to be made to serve under a 
foreign flag." 

Sultan — "If you have finished, I shall 
now sign the edict and you may depart." 
(The Sultan takes up the pen and signs.) 

Javid — {In anger.) "Your Majesty, you 
are now committing a blot on civilization. 
Are subjects to be dogs? Is your life to be 
made up of mere pleasure? If this is your 
ambition, why, in the name of Allah, don't 
you abdicate and go where abounds pleasure 
to your heart's delight. You certainly can 
have none here. Shut up like you are in this 
prison of a place is enough to drive one mad. 
Take your yacht and friends, go where pleas- 
ure dictates, and we will pay the bills. You 
won't have many more years to enjoy them, 
and you will be a long time dead. Allow 
some one to rule in your palace who will ap- 
preciate the responsibilities of life sufliciently 



Act II 77 

to realize that personal enjoyment and even 
personal existence is only temporal, and that 
real existence is what can be made of one's 
opportunities to create on time a lasting im- 
pression. Turkey is in dire need of a helping 
hand, and she looks appealingly to one that 
throttles her." (Sultan, who has been show- 
ing signs of anger during the above discourse, 
can now restrain himself no longer. He 
jumps up in anger.) 

Sultan — "And who are you to come here 
and criticize his Sultan to his face? You are 
a fine example to set before the nation. In 
your Utopian expression you condone good 
behavior and uphold the law, but you your- 
self have seriously transgressed the law you 
wish upheld by insulting your Sultan. Your 
spirit may be patriotic, but you are falsely led 
by high ambitions and unwise doctrines, and 
as a false teacher an example must be made 
of you." {He claps hands three times. Two 
officers with swords drawn spring out of un- 
seen niches in the wall, LiE.) "You see I 
am always prepared for such patriotic luna- 
tics as you. All rulers are subjected to the 
same, and many foolhardy ones lose their 
lives in similar fervid outbreaks." {To the 
officers.) "Take him to the prison and put 
him in a cell under the water level. By the 
time he next sees the light of day, his ideas 



78 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

may have undergone a change. I have 
spoken." 

Javid — "I, too, have spoken, and I hope 
you will think over my words. If so, my sac- 
rifice is well worth while." ( The Sultan mo- 
tions them away. The soldiers salute, and 
with Javid between them march out through 
doors towards RjE. As they reach the little 
iron door in the zvall they stop and make a 
sign. Javid takes the hand of each in his.) 

Kasha Bey, First Officer — "Brave 
Brother, we are with you to the last. Your 
words were nobly spoken. If the old fox had 
not been moved by them he would have shot 
you where you stood. His hand repeatedly 
sought the revolver in his smoking robe." 

Javid — "I thank you, comrades. The re- 
peal of that Constitution means war. Word 
at the proper time will be passed you. In the 
meantime" {He lays his finger across his 
lips.) 

Mauhamid Bey, Second Officer — 
{Opening the little iron door.) "Hurry, we 
need you too badly to risk your staying 
longer." {All salute, and Javid makes exit 
through door. Officers walk of. Sultan puts 
down the rifle he had been handling, sits 
down, and lights cigarette, and looks at ceil- 
ing contemplatively .) 

Curtain 



ACT III 

Time — Some weeks later on a Friday Morn- 
ing, 

Scene i — The Dairi of Helaine in the Harem 
of Dolw.a Bagtche Palace 

{A room is shown without any windows. 
The ceiling is open to the sky. On the walls 
are rugs. Doors at L2E and R2E, draped. 
Both are draped with kalims. On the floor 
is a large silk rug. At R C there is a small 
fountain with some vines trailing to the floor. 
Around the room are several settees and di- 
vans. A large divan is placed slightly rear, 
LC, To left of fountain is a table with sev- 
eral little boxes on it and vase with a rose in 
it. There is a bird cage hanging from each 
side of the aperture in the ceiling, zvith ca- 
naries in each. At C rear there is a very 
small square hole in the wall, about two feet 
long and two feet wide, heavily latticed. 
There are no pictures on the walls, and no 
chairs in the room. At rise of curtain, pig- 
eons fly in the opening in this roof and alight 
79 



8o Within the Gates of Yildiz 

on the fountain, Helaine is seen seated on 
divan L C and seated to right side of her is 
a big negress fanning her, and watching her 
plait some designs with horse hair. Helaine 
is dressed in European negligee. The negress 
is dressed very simply in white loose robe with 
cord for belt. She wears sandals. Back of 
Helaine stands a pretty white girl of about 
seventeen, brushing Helaine' s long hair. She 
is dressed simply in blue and wears sandals 
and no stockings.) 

Dehlias — "My little Almond Blossom 
knits cunningly. She uses the same stitch my 
mother taught me." 

Helaine — "From whence came your 
mother?" 

Dehlias — "From the Soudan. That is 
where most of us black people come who 
serve the white in the Levant." 

Helaine — "I was taught by a Soudanese 
negress to weave this stitch on one of my 
father's estates in Algeria. We used the long 
hair from the mane and tail of the beautiful 
Arabian steeds. She taught me to make 
chains, anklets, armlets, and belts in the same 
stitch." 

Dehlias — "Yes, and I can make bridles, 
mats, and even ropes." 

Helaine— "Ropes?" 



Act III 8i 

Dehlias — "By simply weaving the smaller 
strands into larger ones and then by using a 
circular plait, the larger ones are plaited into 
a rope and a strong one." {By this time 
Masallia, the girl brushing Helaine's hair, 
has finished and after arranging it in a he- 
coming plait, she makes her exit R3E, taking 
the brush with her.) 

Helaine — {Stops work and looks a mo- 
ment at the opening in the ceiling.) '*A rope, 
do show me." {She gives the knitting to the 
negress, gets up and walks around looking at 
the opening. Comes down stage.) "It is 
possible. With a lariat I can easily lasso 
that cornice." {Stops in meditation.) "But 
outside help is essential. My absence would 
soon be noticed." 

Dehlias — "Come, my cloudlet, here is 
how the rope is made. I have a large one 
that I have just finished. I shall bring it to 
you after midday." 

Helaine — {Running to her and bending 
over to watch a moment and then straighten- 
ing up.) "Why, of course, Dehlias taught 
me that, but I had forgotten it." 

Dehlias — "Dehlias, why that is my moth- 
er's name. I was named after her." {She 
places her finger on Helaine^ s arm.) "Was 
she a little lame and did she have the tribal 



82 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

tattoo like this?" {She hares her arm above 
the elbow.) 

Helaine — {Excitedly and in amaze- 
ment.) "Yes indeed. It was on her right 
cheek here." {She places her finger on her 
right cheek bone.) "Four little parallel 
dashes." 

Dehlias — "It must be my mother." {She 
kisses Helaine' s arm and hand joyously.) 
"Oh! tell me of her. Is she still alive? I 
have heard nothing in fifteen years." 

Helaine — "To be sure. We could not 
get along without our Dehlias. She is head 
of the servants of the household. Isn't this 
a narrow world?" {Knock is heard.) 

Voice — "May I come in?" 

Helaine — "Certainly and welcome." 

{Enter from L2E a very pretty girl. Bru- 
nette, about twenty-four, dressed in latest 
French fashion, but wearing a hat and a yash- 
mak {veil to the eyes)^ zvhich she lowers as 
soon as she enters.) 

EvETTE — "I did not wish to disturb you 
before you had your rose bath, most beautiful 
one."^ 

Helaine — {Arising and in astonish- 
ment.) "Why, Evette, you appear all ready 
for a promenade on the Champs Elysees." 
{She kisses her on both cheeks and the salute 
is returned,) 



Act III 83 

EvETTE — {Laughing and dropping down 
on the divan.) "You see his Majesty humors 
me by allowing me to dress as my fancy suits 
me, and as I take the French fashion jour- 
nals, I can keep right up to the dernier mode. 
Do I appear ridiculous? I miss the admira- 
tion most women crave and get in new 
clothes." 

Helaine — "You look most charming in 
anything you wear, but you appear to be go- 
ing out." 

EvETTE — "I am, my honey ladened bee." 
{She gives Helaine an affectionate pat on the 
cheek.) "His Majesty has honored me to- 
day by inviting me to be one of the favorite 
few of his wives who accompany him to the 
Mosque for the Salamlik which is held every 
Friday." 

Helaine — "How delightful. Tell me 
more, but first let's have some refreshments. 
How rude of me not to have thought of you 
sooner." {She claps her hands twice, a 
pause, again she claps and then thrice. This 
time from R2E in bounds a beautiftd girl of 
sixteen with flowers entwined in her hair, car- 
rying a large basket filled with rose leaves. 
She is simply dressed in white and wears no 
stockings hut sandals. She comes forward 
quickly, kneels at Helaine's side, takes her 



84 fVithin the Gates of Yildiz 

hand and looks up affectionately into her 
face. ) 

Ester — "Oh, pray pardon the delay, I 
was just returning from the garden gathering 
rose leaves for your bath. My beloved Star, 
how may I serve you?" 

Helaine — {Patting her on the head.) 
"Run quick and bring us some sherbet, but 
have you forgotten your manners? Do you 
not see I have a beautiful lady visiting me?" 

Ester — {Getting up hurriedly and grace- 
fully giving the Turkish temena and then shy- 
ly running out of the room.) 

Evette — "What a beautiful slave ! When 
did you get her? Do let her come to visit 
me!" 

Helaine — {Sadly.) "Oh, she came as 
part of the fixtures of the dairi when I was 
placed here. She is a bright little thing, and 
seems to love me dearly. I call her Ester 
from her starry blue eyes. She will let no 
one else but herself give me a rose bath. 
She speaks my language and is a great com- 
fort to me." 

{Ester returns from R2E with two cups of 
sherbet and sinks on the floor beside He- 
laine. The negress is behind the divan and 
fans them with a big palm leaf fan. Both sip 
the sherbet.) 

Helaine — "Now please tell me about the 



Act III 85 

Salamllk. I have heard they were held, but 
did not know exactly what was done." 

EvETTE — [Draining the cup, putting it on 
the floor and then taking out cigarette pa- 
pers and tobacco from her bag she begins to 
roll a cigarette. Ester gets up and gets a 
match from a small stand behind the fountain 
and lights the match for her. Evette puffs 
the cigarette. Ester then brings her mistress 
a little box from the table, from which He- 
laine takes a very small cigarette with a hol- 
low stem, and places in the stem a long am- 
ber cigarette holder. Ester holds the lighted 
match while Helaine lights the cigarette.) 

Helaine — "I could never learn to roll a 
cigarette like you do. The only kind I enjoy 
are these scented Russian cigarettes." 

Evette — "They are too mild, and the 
scent destroys the flavor for me. But to re- 
turn to the Salamlik. Friday is the Moslem 
Sunday in Turkey (laughing) ; we have 
three Sundays in a week, Christian, Jewish 
and Moslem; so, every Friday, his Majesty 
goes to worship at his favorite Mosque. 
This is a great occasion. Preceding him 
to the door of the Mosque go all the court 
attaches. Pashas and Dignitaries. Several 
regiments of soldiers led by bands of music 
playing the Sultan's March, march down the 
route of passage, and for a long ways line 



86 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

both sides of the entrance to the Mosque. 
In coupes he takes a few of his favorite 
wives. A eunuch guards each coupe, and the 
head eunuch overlooks the entire equipage. 
This is the only way we get to see the outside 
world, and it Is quite a treat to one of us 
to get the invitation." 

Helaine— "Do you get out of the 
coupe?" 

EvETTE — "No, indeed, my dear girl. We 
are too carefully guarded for that. We 
must keep the bhnds closed while the coupes 
are at rest, and wear our yashmak all the 
while." 

Helaine — "How I would love to go." 

EvETTE — "It would be impossible until 
you convinced him you could be trusted." 

Helaine — "Do you love him?" 

EvETTE — "I do not know. I was brought 
up with the Idea that If I kept myself pretty 
and pleasing that some day I might become 
the Sultan's bride. I, at least, have achieved 
that great and envious honor and am con- 
tent. What more could I desire?" 

Helaine — "I know, but love does not per- 
mit the sharing with others the object of 
one's desires." 

Evette — "I would not permit It could I 
help It. That is why I sobbed that night 
when I saw you two in the garden and heard 



Act III 87 

the Sultan appealing to you to stay. I 
thought that you would supplant me In his 
eyes, and I hated you." 

Helaine — "I have never seen the Sultan 
since that night. Do you hate me now? 
Don't you want me to leave?" {She places 
her hand on Evette's arm). 

EvETTE — {With downcast eyes.) "I 

like you well, but wish you were not here." 

Helaine — {To Ester.) "Ester, my 

dear, run down stairs and bring us up some 

Turkish delight." 

{Ester jumps up and runs of stage ^ exit 
L2E.) 

Helaine — {Impulsively.) "Let me take 
your place In the coupe to-day. See, I give 
you my locket which you admired so much." 
{She takes of the locket and chain and 
places it around Evette's neck.) "Do let me 
go. I shall do nothing to reveal my pres- 
ence, and no one shall be the wiser. I shall 
go heavily veiled. I am consumed with curi- 
osity to behold a Selamllk." 

Deklias— {Pleadingly.) "But this Is 
our day to go fishing, my mistress; have you 
forgotten?" 

Helaine — {Impatiently.) "We can go 
later to-day, on my return." 

EvETTE — {Clasping the locket in her 
hands and bending over excitedly.) "Oh, 



88 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

but do you know what would happen to us if 
you are detected?" 

Helaine — "Nothing worse could happen 
to me than what is liable to happen at any 
moment, as long as I remain here." 

EvETTE — "Oh, yes there is. We would 
all be tied up in a sack, and at midnight we 
would be quietly dropped in the Bosphorus, 
kerplunk." {Evette looks very serious and 
points her finger downward.) "More than 
one poor girl has gone that route." 

Helaine — "Horrors, is that real? I 
thought that was only in stories." 

Evette — "If you are detected we shall 
soon find out." {Shakes her head.) "It is 
impossible; let's not talk about it jFurther." 
{She arises to go.) 

Dehlias — "Don't attempt it, my mistress. 
We may all lose our lives. Are not you 
satisfied to be in a Sultan's harem? There 
isn't a girl in the Empire who wouldn't give 
twenty years of her life for your place here. 
Please go fishing now in the morning while 
it's cool and the fish are biting. See, I have 
the bait all ready." {She runs to the fountain 
and takes up a jar from the floor behind it 
and smiles.) "Behold!" 

Helaine — {Impetuously.) "Don't try 
to detain me. I must go." 

Evette — {Shaking her head.) "My 



Act III 89 

eunuch would know you instantly. It is im- 
possible." 

{A knock is heard without. 

All look up inquiringly — pause). 

Helaine — "Enter." 

{Enter Mustafa Sadi, the head eunuch to 
the Sultan, DL2E. He is a tall black negro. 
He wears frock coat, black pants and fez. 
He comes before Helaine and salaams. He 
has in his hand an oblong box of dark pol- 
ished wood.) 

Helaine— "Well?" 

Mustafa Sadi — {Extending the box to 
her.) "A present from my master, his Maj- 
esty, and his compliments, oh beautiful 
rose." {Helaine takes the box and opens 
it and takes out a necklace of sapphires and 
diamonds which glitters like fire. She holds 
it up.) 

All the Women — {In admiration.) 
"Oh I Oh! Oh!" 

Helaine — {Still holding it up.) "It is 
exquisite." {She places it on her neck.) 
"Are they not becoming, Evette?" 

{Evette, at the sight of the necklace, is vis- 
ibly affected. She turns pale, and draws 
back, eyes snapping and fist clenched, breast 
heaving; she says nothing. The eunuch turns 
and talks to Dehlias.) 

Helaine — {Looking at Evette intently, 



90 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

then at the eunuch, and then in a low tone to 
Evette.) "If I send it back will you let me 
go in your place?" 

Evette — {Looks from the necklace to 
Helaine, then at the eunuch and hack at 
Helaine, and eagerly.) "Yes, yes!" {She 
clasps her hands and shuts her eyes.) 

{Helaine takes of the necklace, places it 
hack in the box, and holds it out to the 
eunuch.) 

Helaine — "Return this to your master. 
It is beautiful, but I will not accept it. He 
will understand." 

( The eunuch looks dumbfounded. Dehlias 
makes a protesting exclamation and looks 
horrified.) 

Helaine — {Still holding out the box.) 
"Do as I bid you, adieu." ( The negro takes 
the box, salaams and makes his exit through 
L2E.) 

Dehlias — {As negro makes exit.) "Oh, 
mistress, what have you done? We will be 
in disfavor and . . ." 

Helaine — {Rushing up to Dehlias.) 
"Evette has consented. I am to go in her 
place." {She jumps up and down in joy.) 

Evette — "But how shall we keep the se- 
cret from my eunuch who goes with me?" 

Dehlias — "Send word for your eunuch 
to come here for you when it is time to go. 



Act in 91 

He is my brother. When he comes, she will 
go in your place. I shall arrange her yash- 
mak so no one will know her. Come, my 
dove, if your head is set on going." 

Helaine — {Excitedly.) "I have a pre- 
sentiment that this will lead to my escape, but 
have no fear, Evette, darling, I shall never 
betray you, and promise to return here with- 
out reveahng myself." {She leads Evette 
to the door, L2E, and kisses her.) "Oh, 
hurry back." {Skipping^ hack across the 
room and taking Dehlias by the arm.) 
''Dear Dehlias, you are just like your mother 
was to me." {They make hurried exit, 
R2E.) 

Curtain 

Scene 2 — The Selamlik at the Mamidieh 
Jam Mosque 

Time — Later Friday morning — about noon 

Exterior Scene. Full Stage 

Mosque 

{At L., slightly projecting from the wings, 
is seen the front' of the Mosque. Steps cov- 
ered with strip of black carpet lead to the 
court in front of the Mosque. Wall along 
rear stage. Tops of Yildiz Palace and Ki- 



92 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

oshes seen over the wall. Driveway comes 
in RiE, exits RsE. At rise of curtain pass- 
ing to and fro of natives; they gather at 
spots in groups as expecting some event. Car- 
riages drive from RiE to R3E, containing 
diplomats, and ladies, attaches, secretaries, 
krevasses in full livery, etc. The Ambassa- 
dorial parties later make their appearance on 
the lower roof of the palace visible over 
the wall a little to the R of C rear. The 
ladies are seated and the men await behind 
their chairs. Animated conversation. The 
Master of Ceremony is present and can he 
recognized by his long black frock coat, red 
fez, and single order on his left breast. He 
is very busy arranging the ladies and joking 
with the gentlemen. Knots of people in- 
crease in the square before the Mosque. 
Foreigners are seen among them. Ameri- 
cans, English, French, Italians, Russians, 
Greeks, Armenians, Arabs, Jews, Kurds, 
mingle and form and re-form groups all in 
an expectant attitude. Raymond McKen- 
sie makes his appearance from RiE, walks 
fore stage C, lights a cigarette and looks cu- 
riously at the parties on the roof. Some of 
them bow to him and he makes a deep bow 
in return, graceftdly szvinging his hat almost 
to the ground. The men on the roof in re- 
turn lift their hats. He then stations him- 



Act in 93 

self at RiE. The muezzin makes his ap- 
pearance on the top of the single minaret 
visible on the stage. It is just to the right 
of the main entrance to the Mosque, about 

In a musical wail like a flute he gives the 
call to prayer.) 

Muezzin— "Allah Akber. La Illah II 
Allah. Allah Akber La Illah II Allah. Es- 
sehadou Allah II Lah II Allah. Essehadou 
Anneh Mohammedan Resool-ul-Lah. Haa- 
yah Allah Al Lah. Haayah Al ul-Fellah. 
Allah Akber. La Illah Lah II Allah." 
( This is given to the four directions. A band 
is heard in the distance. It gradually comes 
nearer and nearer. The marching of sol- 
diers is heard mingled with the commands 
of officers. The hand makes its appearance, 
R2E, playing the Sultan's March by Doni- 
zetti, followed by nu7nerous Pashas and of- 
ficers in dark blue coats with heavy gold braid 
and white trousers and red fezzes. The offi- 
cers and Pashas array themselves on the rear 
side {up stage) of the entrance to the 
mosque. The soldiers dressed in blue line 
up against the rear wall. The people crowd 
themselves in LiE and RiE. Two more 
bands followed by two regiments of sol- 
diers, first dressed in green and second 
in white, come on, one following the other, 



94 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

through R2E. The officers line up with the 
others by the mosque. The soldiers line up 
before back wall and in space between R2E 
and R3E. Follozving the soldiers come three 
coupes in succession. Seated with the driv- 
ers are black eunuchs. Hitched to the 
coupes are beautiful white horses. The first 
two coupes contain women and children, the 
last one, a single occupant, a woman veiled 
to the eyes. The coupes are driven across 
stage to L. The Chief Eunuch, on horse- 
back, follows them. Here the eunuchs and 
drivers dismount. The horses are taken of 
the stage and the carriages are wheeled in a 
row to the left of the entrance to the mosque, 
down stage, facing the R side of the stage. 
The last coupe containing the single occu- 
pant is placed foremost down stage. The 
eunuch stands behind it among bystanders. 
As the last coupe was driven across the 
stage, Raymond exclaims.) 

Raymond — "Did you see what I saw? — 
Those veils are maddening! Those eyes! 
Whew!! Bebe!" {He gesticulates and 
blows a kiss of his fingers towards the sky. 
As soon as the horses are taken of the stage 
Raymond strolls across the stage, and as he 
is almost before the window of Helaine's 
coupe, she places her head out as if to speak 
to him. The eunuch runs around the coupe 



Act III 95 

from the rear just at this time and quickly 
slams the blinds and stands by the window 
with arms folded, glai'ing at Raymond, who 
takes up a position just in rear of the coupe 
and stands on the outskirt of a small throng 
of curiosity seekers. Just then a bugle is 
heard, followed by the rattle of carriage 
wheels and distant shouts. They grow loud- 
er. The Sultan drives on the stage from 
R2E in an open victoria, drawn by peerless 
white stallions. He is dressed in dark frock 
coat and wears no ornaments. He sits very 
erect in the center. He is followed by sev- 
eral soldiers or officers on horseback. They 
dismount and join the others. Their horses 
are led off the stage by orderlies.) 

Soldiers and Populace — "Padishahlm 
Chok Gasha. Padlshahim Chok Gasha. 
Padishahim Chok Gasha." ["Long live our 
Sultan, the Conqueror."] 

{As the Sultan passes he gives a glance at 
the roof containing the ladies and gentlemen 
from the embassies but does not speak. They 
all bow deeply. The carriage is driven up to 
the door of the mosque. All the officers and 
dignitaries bow deeply and remain with heads 
down as he dismounts and walks up the black 
carpeted steps into the mosque. A buzzing 
of conversation is heard. His carriage is 
driven away off stage exit RjE. All the 



96 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

horses make exit this way, the crowd open- 
ing for them. Helaine raises the blind of her 
coupe. The eunuch in meantime has stepped 
back into the crowd, and is talking with some 
of his admirers among the natives. These 
show great curiosity in him, feeling the cloth 
of his coat, examining his silk hose, etc. He 
is enjoying the admiration very iniich, and 
grins continually . Helaine puts her head 
out of the window and catches Raymond' s 
eye. The eunuch also sees her and rushes 
up and slams down the blind. She quickly 
raises it and gives him her gold watch and 
fob. His face breaks into grins. He takes 
it and starts to walk back to his admirers, 
but turns back and again closes down the 
blind. He then returns to the crowd and 
shows them his watch. He listens to it tick, 
and finally licks the gold, grins, and shows 
it to the crowd; some examine it, then by the 
fob he starts swinging it nonchalantly around 
in a circle. In the meantime a white glove 
is seen to fall from the coupe. Raymond 
walks forward quickly, drops his handker- 
chief over the glove, picks them both up, 
and puts them in his pocket, and walks across 
the stage to R. 

Commotion around the doorway indicates 
the Sultan is about to come out of the 
mosque. Soldiers, Pashas and officers all 



Act III 97 

straighten up. A phaeton drives up from 
R3E, and stops before the mosque. Two 
horses, tandem fashion, are hitched to it. 
Looking neither to the right nor left, the 
Sultan comes out of the mosque and gets 
in the rig, and takes the lines to drive. An 
old man, an astrologer, rushes out of the 
crowd from RLE and hands him a rolled 
document made of parchment or cloth. He 
takes it and puts it down beside him in the 
rig. The old man kneels and raises his hands 
to the sky and calls out: "Villahi ! Billahi! 
Villahi! Billahi!" [Meaning — ''By the aid 
of Allah, in the name of God.^^] He then 
goes back into the crowd. As the Sultan 
drives off a number of persons, including 
some of the Pashas and court hangers-on, 
trot at the rear wheels of the rig, all calling 
to the Sultan, who heeds them not. He is 
immediately followed by two soldiers on 
horseback with carbines. The crowd mingles 
as the soldiers form^ lines to withdraw. The 
Sultan makes exit through RjE, followed 
by mixed crowds trotting beside and behind 
the vehicle. Some have their hands on it 
as if to aid the horses pushing it. The sol- 
diers, coupes and populace soon follow. 
Raymond takes out the glove, removes the 
note, walks fore stage, looks right and left 
and reads.) 



98 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Raymond — {Reading note,) " 'Please, 
at three this afternoon, be at the spot where 
the south wall of the Dolma Bagtche meets 
the Bosphorus near the big gate; watch the 
water. Don't fail me !' This looks like an 
adventure and with a wife of a Sultan. It 
must be my figure." {He pulls down his 
jacket tightly across his body.) "Will I be 
there? Will I?" {Exit RiE.) 

Curtain 

Scene j — The Square Before the Galata 
Bridge 

Time — Shortly After Noon Friday 
Exterior Scene 

{Water front, Per a. One end of the 
Galata Bridge is shown at L rear. Street 
scene, stores, cafes, etc., shown at right 
and left from front stage to rear. Back 
drop shows the Bosphorus, Seraglio point, 
Leander lighthouse, and the Asiatic shore 
visible in distance. Vessels of steam and sail, 
launches and caques, yachts and steamers are 
seen in the water and moored to the bridge. 
The street scene can be made a most interest- 
ing one. Across this bridge there is a constant 
ebb and flow of people in carriages, on 
horseback, on camels, on donkeys, afoot. 



Act III 99 

People from every clime and in every cos- 
tume. Porters pass by indifferently, hearing 
heavy loads, either piled on their backs or 
in huge baskets hung on a long pole carried 
between them. Little donkeys with stacks 
of boxes piled several times their height go 
nimbly and unconcerned. Sherbet sellers, 
newsboys, bootblacks, nut sellers, with their 
brass vessels, all mingle in the crowd crying 
their wares. Ladies with their veils pulled 
to their eyes walk by and ride by in car- 
riages. The wofnen carry parasols. Men 
in European dress, but with various kinds 
of hat-gear, among which the fez is the most 
prominent, mingle in the throng and sit at 
tables on the sidewalks before the cafes, on 
R and L. Soldiers and Pashas in heavy 
gilded uniforms ride and walk. The Young 
Turks^ heavy armored automobile passes by. 
A band of pilgrims on the way to Mecca 
stop a moment in the square C and give an 
exhibition of gun juggling to the wild heat- 
ing of kettle drums. An Arab Bedouin Sheik 
comes across the stage dressed in long robe. 
He rides a donkey. His beard is white and 
long. He wears a green turban that shows 
he has been to Mecca. He precedes a camel, 
on which is a box-arranged saddle with four 
posts forming a cupola, which is incased in 
veils. The little posts have feathered tufts 



lOO Within the Gates of Yildiz 

which sway as the camel walks. Through 
the veils is seen a female form, the Sheik's 
present to the Sultan. He is followed by 
several donkeys bearing his equipment and 
servants. 

A bunch of Russian Cossacks followed by 
a group of A 7n eric an sailors, led by a neat 
ensign, pass by. Some stop to sit at the 
tables to order drinks, others buy nuts and 
tobacco. The whole scene is much animated. 
The following are the cries in Turkish, 
Greek and Armenian of the street venders, 
etc. {phonetic spelling) : 

Water Carriers {Armenian) — '^Varme 
Su." 

Porters {Kurds)— ''Sa Cun Ha.'' 
Water Carriers {Greek) — '^Crio Nero." 
Donkey Boys {Turkish) — ^'Barrak." 
Coachmen { French ) — ^^ Gar da." 
Newsboys {Greek) — '^Neologos." 
References — On request. 
Ticket booth and ticket takers are at R 
and L of entrance to Bridge. Mizzet Pasha 
comes across the bridge, walks to front stage 
L, seats himself at small table in front of 
the Cafe del Genio and orders coffee. He 
looks at his watch. He then takes out and 
fingers a chaplet of beads, ninety-nine on a 
string, each thirty-three separated by a 
marker. A few moments pass. Stage is 



Act III loi 

cleared. He looks up and sees Mustafa 
Sadi comiyig on stage from RiE towards 
him. Others on stage have passed of through 
various exits.) 

MizZET — "Ah, I was getting nervous 
over your tardiness." {Eunuch sits down.) 

Eunuch — "There is so much In the air 
these times one may as well forget his nerves. 
How goes It?" 

MizzET — "The stock campaign Is succeed- 
ing far better than I had hoped. There ar- 
rived to-day the first installment of gold on 
our gains from the Paris Bourse." 

{Enter Raymond from RiE, smoking a 
cigarette, walks to a table on the sidewalk 
before a cafe at R, seats himself, and a 
waiter, a Frenchman, in attendance, comes 
out of door to cafe to his side.) 

Henri — {Waiter.) "Monsieur?" 

Raymond — "Oh, er — er" — {Thinks a 
moment) "just bring me a tonlque." 

Henri — "Oui, Monsieur, certainement, 
Monsieur, une tonlque tres vite." 

{Exit waiter quickly into the cafe and re- 
turns with glass of colorless fluid, which he 
serves.) "Voila, Monsieur, Merci, Mon- 
sieur." {He stands back against the wall 
R. Raymond takes from his pocket He- 
laine^s note and reads it carefully and places 
it back into his pocket.) 



102 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

MusTAFi Sadi — 'Tes, but what about 
this revolt that our spies are telling his 
Majesty that has been started at Salonika? 
His Majesty is worried over this and asks 
you to endeavor to get the particulars. This 
scroll was handed him to-day, just as he was 
leaving the mosque, by an old astrologer." 
{He takes the scroll from his pocket and 
hands it to Mizzet.) 

MizzET — {Taking the scroll, unrolling it 
and reading.) "Oh, great Calif of All 
Califs. Your throne is in grave danger. 
One Javid Bey, together with one Kevshet 
Pasha, have organized a revolt at Salonika. 
They have forced the regular troops who 
wanted to remain loyal to you to join them, 
and these, with many thousand volunteers, 
are now en route to the city to dethrone 
you. May Allah give you the strength to 
smite your enemies." 

Mizzet — "I have suspected all along that 
these men were members of the committee 
of five who direct the operation of the Young 
Turks, and now I am convinced." {Clenches 
and unclenches his hand.) "Every spy we 
sent to assassinate them has been, in turn, 
assassinated. I'll give them credit for out- 
spying us, but something has got to be done 
to intimidate them." 

Mustafa Sadi — "Get a list of the officers 



Act III 103 

of the three barracks in the city. Indicate 
those that can and those that cannot be de- 
pended upon. The soldiers are loyal, but 
most of the officers belong to the Committee 
of Union and Progress, and must be sacri- 
ficed." 

MizzET — "With the gold we have we can 
pay up the back pay of the soldiers and 
can control them. The list will be ready this 
afternoon, and by that time the gold will be 
at the barracks in readiness. I am convinced 
the trained local troops will easily sweep up 
the rabble from Salonika should they dare 
attempt to take the city." 

Mustafa Sadi — "When all is in readi- 
ness, the signal will be given. You will come 
to Yildiz to-night?" (He stands up.) 

Ambassador Fleishman — {Coming in 
from RjE and walking up behind Ray- 
mond. Jovially.) "Cheer up, Percival, 
you'll soon be dead." 

Raymond — {Jumping up.) "Hello, glad 
to see you, sir." {Calls to waiter, who 
comes to table.) "Hey — Garcon!" {Both 
sit down. Waiter comes quickly forward.) 

Ambassador — "You look as if you had 
the world on your shoulder. What's the 
matter?" 

Raymond — "What will you have, sir?" 

Ambassador — {Seriously to waiter.) 



104 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

"Say, Cuthbert, bring me a cup of cup cus- 
tard." 

Waiter — {Bowing, and seriously.) 
"Monsieur? Cup of cuth cuth^^r^. What 
ees eet?" 

Raymond — {Laughing.) "Cuth of cuth 
cuthpard. Oh!" {Holds hand to cheek.) 
"I got a mouthful." 

Ambassador — (Seriously.) "No, Cuth- 
bert, a cup of cuth — cuth " {Laughing.) 

"He's got me saying it now." {Raymond 
and Ambassador laugh. Waiter looks solemn 
and perplexed.) 

Waiter — {Excitedly.) "Mon Dieu — 
who is thees cuth of cuptard cusses?" {Ges- 
ticulates wildly.) "Sacre Bleu, I know heem 
not!" {Ambassador and Raymond explode 
with laughter.) 

Raymond — "Have a heart, your Excel- 
lency. He can't prove he is sober. He is 
getting worse. Tell him w^hat you want!" 

Ambassador — {Wiping his eyes with his 
handkerchief, and to waiter). "If you 
haven't got what I said — I can't say it 
again — I don't want anything. It is too 
early for liquor and too late for coffee. I 
can't drink these messy drinks." {He taps 
glass before Raymond. Waiter shrugs 
shoulders and makes exit into cafe, mutter- 



Act III 105 

ing.) "But come, Raymond, what's all the 
worry about?" 

Raymond — "You remember that Kurd 
that we pulled out of the Bosphorus that 
Sunday?" 

Ambassador — "Yes. He seemed very 
grateful, and swore by the beard of the 
prophet that some day he would do you a 
favor." 

Raymond — "Well, he works In the gar- 
den at Yildiz. I happened to be mistaken 
for a courier one time when I was at the 
depot by a couple of Frenchmen with a 
charming young girl. Gad, she was pretty. 
I can't get her off my mind." (Looks ab- 
stracted.) 

Ambassador — "Love at first sight, eh — 
go on." 

Raymond — "Well, the upshot was that 
I consented to show them the way to Yildiz. 
They had an appointment with the Sultan. 
As I was leaving the grounds this Kurd came 
up to me with a flower, and as he gave it 
to me said that If the young lady was a 
friend of mine to look after her, as, while 
working in a flower bed under the window, 
he overheard the two Frenchmen talking, 
and from what he gathered he believed they 
had lured the young girl there to sell her 
to the Sultan." 



io6 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Ambassador — "That's not so very un- 
common, but I fancy she was wlUing, all 
right." 

Raymond — "Had you seen the girl you 
wouldn't think so. She was a dream." 

Ambassador — "Perhaps so." (Laughs.) 
"What did you do next?" 

Raymond — "I went back to the palace 
and warned them, but they held a bold front 
and would admit nothing. I had their 
movements watched, but was informed that 
they left with the young girl and caught a 
train that night for Paris." 

Ambassador — "Well, what are you wor- 
rying about now? You were not smitten, 
were you?" (Laughs.) "You young bucks 
certainly fall easily before a pretty face. Fll 
wager she has never given you another 
thought." (Leans over, and seriously.) 
"Did she drop you a love letter and forget 
to enclose her address?" [Laughs.) 

Raymond — {Earnestly.) "All joking 
aside. Something happened to-day that has 
given me an idea that after all she may be 
in that old devil's harem. I can't make it 
out, but I will tell you more about it later." 
{He looks at his watch.) "I have an en- 
gagement at three, and it is about time for 
me to be off." 

Ambassador — {Nodding across the street 



Act III 107 

to the eunuch,) ''Say, I believe there is the 
chief eunuch." {In mock seriousness, lean- 
ing across the table and placing his hand on 
Raymond's arm.) "Why not ask the good 
fellow If she Is among the fortunate ones?" 
{Laughs.) 

Raymond — "I believe I will. He will 
He to me, but he may drop a hint or look 
that may give me an Inkling." 

MizzET — ^"Fll be there about eight 
o'clock; In meantime, adieu." 

Mustafa Sadi — {Waves hand.) 
"Adieu." {Walks toward RiE and passes 
cafe before which Raymond is sitting. Ray- 
mond gets up and calls to him.) 

Raymond — "Hey! may I have a word 
with you?" {The eunuch stops.) "You 
are Mustafa SadI, the Celebrated, are you 
not?" {He takes a cigar from his outside 
coat pocket.) 

Mustafa Sadi — "They call me by that 
name." 

Raymond — {Places the cigar in Mus- 
tafa's hand.) "Smoke that when you have 
time and you will forget your troubles." 
{The black looks at the cigar, being\ at- 
tracted by its bright red wrapper, which he 
examines.) "By the way, Is there In the 
royal harem a pretty red-headed French — " 

Mustafa — "To be seen talking to you 



io8 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

in this manner may cost me my head" {He 
takes the cigar and shoves it into Raymond^ s 
outside bi'east pocket of his coat.) "and" 
{Pause.) "yours. Adieu, effendi." {He 
smiles, showing his teeth and walks of, exit 
RiE.) 

Raymond — {Looking after him.) 
"Damn!" {He looks again at his watch.) 
"It is time for me to keep that rendezvous." 
{As he moves of, to Ambassador.) "If 
I don't come back, the dog is yours." {Exit 
R3E. The Ambassador waves to him. Miz- 
zet Pasha gets up and comes across the stage 
to the Ambassador's table.) 

MizzET — "Good day, your Excellency." 
{The Ambassador stands up and shakes 
hands with him.) 

Ambassador — "How are you, Mizzet 
Pasha ; are things going to suit you, now you 
and your friends are back in your power?" 

Mizzet — "Things never go so well that 
they couldn't go better; and with you?" 

Ambassador — "Splendid. I have a des- 
patch that my wife and children are in Buda- 
pest and will leave soon for Constantinople. 
They may be here to-morrow or Sunday." 

Mizzet — "You have been my friend." 
{Slowly.) "Budapest is a most interesting 
city; telegraph them to remain there a week 
and see the city." {He blows out a puff of 



Act III 109 

smoke and walks slowly of the stage. The 
Ambassador is in a brown study. After a 
few moments, hurriedly, from across bridge 
L rear comes the American Consul General. 
He sees the Ambassador and comes quickly 
up to him. He has a despatch in his hand.) 

Consul General Ozmund — {Giving the 
despatch to the Ambassador.) "I was just 
on my way to the Embassy. This is from 
my consular agent at Salonika, He says 
that the troops are on the way to take Con- 
stantinople, and will make the attempt early 
next week. I also hear that when this news 
is known here there will be rioting and mas- 
sacring. A plot is now being hatched among 
the Kurds to massacre the Armenians and 
Christians in the city, and I fear it may 
come about to-morrow, as that is the date 
set for it." 

Ambassador — "Something is in the wind. 
I know from what Mizzet Pasha just let 
slip. From whom did you get the informa- 
tion about the plot?" 

Consul General — "To-day, from one 
of my servants, who is seemingly in the plot. 
We must endeavor to get the Young Turks 
to try to take the city in the morning." 

Ambassador — "This is indeed serious. 
What do you suggest?" 

Consul General — "A message must be 



no Within the Gates of Yildiz 

gotten to Kevshet Pasha, the generalissimo 
of the advancing army, explaining the situa- 
tion and urging that they get here by to- 
morrow morning. They will have better 
chances of success, anyway, if the surprise 
can be carried out." 

Ambassador — "Let us lose no time in 
this." {Exeunt LiE.) 

Curtain 



ACT IV 

Scene i — The Big Gate, Dolma Bagtche 
Palace 

Time — Three O'clock Friday Afternoon 
Exterior Scene 

{From extreme R front to RC rear 
is shown the big gate of Dolma Bagtche. 
Two sentinels pace up and down before the 
gate. A few 7nomenis after curtain rises, 
Raymond McKensie appears from LiE, 
walks to C fore stage and looks at his watch. 
He is dressed in a light suit and carries a 
cane with crook in handle. He walks to C 
rear, looks at the water.) 

Raymond — "Gee — but that current is 
swift. The Black Sea ought to go dry at 
this rate." {Pause. He looks up and down 
the Bosphorus.) "I wonder if she expects 
to come out of the water. She must be a 
mermaid!" {He walks up and down before 
the gate C front to C rear and back again 
to extreme L front.) "Watch the water! 
Bah!" {Looks toward palace.) "I sup- 
in 



112 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

pose she and the rest of the haremltes are 
splitting their sides with laughter behind 
those shades." {Looks at audience.) "I 
feel like a fool. How could any one hold 
a tryst in an open place like this? The 
old geezer could see us a mile off." {He 
walks to the rear and hack again. Looks at 
his watch) "It is three now." {Looks up 
suddenly.) "Did she mean Turkish time or 
European time? Curses on a nation that 
tolerates two times! A man has to carry 
two watches here to be on the job." {He 
walks to the water. A distant cry is heard. 
Muezzin calling to prayer.) 

Muezzin's Voice — "Allah Akber — Al- 
lah Akber — Allah Akber — Allah Akber. 
Allah— II— Lah— II Allah— Allah Akber 
—La II Lah II Allah." 

Guards— {Together.) "Prayer!" {They 
perform the prayer ceremony on the stage 
by kneeling, LiE facing Mecca {East, or up 
stage) and bowing their heads to the floor 
a number of times.) 

Raymond — {Putting his cane into the 
water and pulling up a line with a cork on 
it.) "Hello, what's this? Some one lost a 
fishing line." {He gives it a tug, and then 
looks upstream R.) "Ah, ha!" {Looks 
around stealthily, and then takes a note out 
from a hole in the cork. The cork falls to 



Act IV 113 

the floor.) "This looks more like business." 
{He walks forestage and reads note.) "I 
hope you haven't forgotten me. I have been 
a captive here two months. I nearly died of 
gladness when I saw you yesterday. Don't 
reveal the knowledge that you know I am 
here or I shall perish. So far I am all right. 
I have a rope of horse hair, and if you will 
meet me at midnight by the little gate in 
the west wall I shall try to escape. I dread 
every new night in this place, so if you can, 
won't you meet me to-night? I am placing 
you in grave danger, but I believe you are 
brave and will help me. Helaine Periot." 

Raymond — {In sheer astonishment leans 
against the stone base on the fence.) "Is it 
possible? My God, is it possible?" {Walks 
up and down.) "How could it have hap- 
pened? This is awful." {Takes note from 
his pocket and zvrites hurriedly.) "Dear 
Miss Helaine, I am consumed with anger 
over this atrocity. I shall be there at mid- 
night. I will make known my presence by 
a quail whistle. Answer the same way. Be 
courageous and do not falter." {He makes 
a fine roll of the note, walks rear stage, picks 
up the cork, places the note in it, and throws 
it hack into the water, just as two soldiers 
arise from prayer on stage. Raymond 
pauses at C to light a cigarette, blows out a 



114 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

puff of smoke, throws away the match, and, 
with a disdainful laugh at the guards who 
are watching him suspiciously, he makes exit 
LiE.) 

Curtain 



Scene 2 — Sultan's Den in the Yildiz Kiosh 

Time — Friday night. 

Interior Scene 

(Interior one-story circular room that ad- 
joins Yildiz palace. The low windows in 
C rear adjoin each other, through which 
can be seen the city in the distance. Foun- 
tain at RC. This is a low basin with a 
small crystal rail around it, through which 
can be seen the water in the basin. A small 
stream plays up from the center of the foun- 
tain. Doors at L2E and R2E. Rug on 
floor at LC. Painted panels in Turkish de- 
signs on walls. {Nothing living is painted 
or portrayed in Turkey.) A low seat is 
before the windows. Rest of room bare of 
furniture. Time — Friday night after the 
Selainlik. At rise of curtain the Sultan comes 
in dressed in his brown robe and walks hur- 
riedly to the window and looks out intently. 
Scattered firing is heard, and here and there 
a glow is seen against the sky. Now and 



Act IV 115 

then distant shouting is heard. Sultan says 
nothing. After a few moments' pause, Miz- 
zet Pasha enters from door at R2E.) 

MizzET — {Going to window and looking 
out.) "Looks like we have played hell, does 
It not, your Majesty?" 

Sultan — (Turning around.) "Ah I It 
Is you. I was just thinking of Rome burn- 
ing and how Nero must have felt as he 
looked out upon it." 

MizZET — ^"With all that racket going on 
it does look like the burning of Rome. I 
guess we might as well tune up the old fiddle, 
eh?" 

Sultan — "Joking aside, what's going 
on?" (Both seat themselves on the divan. 
Mizzet lights a cigarette.) 

MizzET — ^"The soldiers got the gold, all 
right. Murdered all their officers, all right, 
and are now painting the town. I guess they 
will continue on the rampage until the money 
is all spent or they all get drunk." 

Sultan — "We should have made some 
provisions against this. It will hurt us with 
the old Turks." 

MizzET — "I figured that the officers who 
were not listed and who escaped could con- 
trol them, but it looks as if any escaped, 
they have vanished." 

{Sultan pulls cord by the window, and or- 



ii6 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

derly comes in through door at R2E and 
salaams.) 

Sultan — {Rising. ) "Bring Emvers Bey, 
the Minister of War, here at once." {Order- 
ly starts of.) "Hold; bring also Ismed Pa- 
sha, the Minister of Finance. He is a sly 
dog and may suggest something. Eh, Miz- 
zet?" {Orderly salaams, exit R2E.) "Sev^- 
eral heads are better than one. I know that 
old Ismed is more with us than against us, 
and will go down if we fall." 

MizzET — "Don't consider that a possi- 
bility, as the regulars will soon rout that 
army of stragglers and volunteers from Sa- 
lonika." 

Sultan — "Anything is possible. Any- 
way, I have been thinking a good deal what 
Javid Bey said. I am no more than a 
prisoner here and my life is at best short. 
If it comes to worst I will resign and enjoy 
the rest of my life as it suits my pleasure, 
and not be restricted by the onerous duties 
of the throne." 

MizzET — "Your Majesty, you shock me. 
You were born to rule this Empire and are 
the hereditary head of Moslem. It is not 
yours to give and take. You must be Sultan 
till death." 

Sultan — "What if this motley crowd 
gets hold of me? How long will my heredi- 



Act IV 117 

tary right sustain me? Evil has been per- 
haps my rule; nevertheless, as long as I am 
here there will be peace with Europe; but 
mark me, Mizzet, when I am gone, all agree- 
ments will be at an end, and you shall wit- 
ness chaos, bloodshed and great loss in Turk- 
ish possessions. Mark me on this." 

Mizzet — "I have always given you full 
credit for your diplomatic astuteness, dear 
Sultan, but why discuss your leaving? You 
will be here for a long time yet." 

Sultan — {Points to the door at L2E.) 
"Do you see that door? It is at the end of 
a passageway that leads from the garden. 
The passageway is so narrow that only one 
man at a time can enter." (He points to 
panel at L of window.) "By touching a 
spring in that panel a rapid fire gun will 
roll into place and command the passage- 
way. It is fired by electricity and will shoot 
for thirty minutes. The windows are pro- 
tected by" {Walks to fountain.) "heavy steel 
curtains. This fountain is not so artless as 
it seems." {He lifts up panel at base of 
rim to the fountain, turns a knob, replaces 
the panel. The fountain stops playing. The 
water in the basin is seen to run out, the 
fountain lifts up automatically, revealing an 
opening to an underground passage. After 
a moment the fountain settles down, closing 



ii8 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

up the gap, the water begins to play, and 
soon it was as before.) 

MizzET — "Marvelous !" 

Sultan — "That passageway leads to a 
spot opposite my yacht. In eleven minutes 
from here I can be on board." 

MizzET — "Truly, that is a remarkable 
arrangement, but I hope you will never be 
forced to use it." 

Sultan — "It is not unlikely that I shall 
use it shortly. If you hear of the attacking 
forces being successful, go at once on board 
my yacht and await me. This ring will gain 
you admission." {Takes of ring and gives 
it to him.) "But take with you as much as 
possible of your worldly wealth, for I fear 
what you leave will be confiscated, as you 
are not well loved, my dear Mizzet, by either 
old or young Turks." 

MizzET — ^" 'Tis, alas, true; but what of 
your wealth?" 

Sultan — "I have enough gold on deposit 
in various European banks to take care of 
me for a long time, and behind those panels" 
{Nods at the wall R of windows.) "are 
several million pounds in securities and bank 
notes. There is no danger of my dying a 
pauper. There are a few good kicks still 
left in this old carcass, and if we are forced 



Act IV 119 

to go to Europe we will have them, eh, 
Mizzet?" 

Master of Ceremony — {Appearing on 
threshold.) 'Tour Majesty, Emvers Bey, 
the Minister of War, is here." 

Sultan — "Admit him." 

{Enter Door R Minister of War.) 

Minister of War Emvers Bey — {Sa- 
lutes.) "Your Majesty, you sent for me?" 

Sultan — "The soldiers of the city bar- 
racks fearing they would be forced by their 
officers to side with the young Turks, as 
they were made to do at Salonika, in spirit 
of patriotism, mutinied this evening and slew 
their officers. They are now running amuck. 
I am afraid some damage is being done,^ and 
more will be done unless they are restrained. 
A consultation is in order. Can you sug- 
gest some officers who escaped who could 
take them in charge?" 

Emvers Bey — "Some gallant and faithful 
men were ruthlessly butchered, and those 
that escaped now fear for their lives. I 
have nothing to suggest." 

Sultan — {To Master of Ceremony.) 
"Escort the effendi to one of the little cells 
below the water line, and perhaps later on 
he can think up a few suggestions." 

Emvers Bey — "Your Majesty, I feel 
deeply the loss of these men, but I can- 



120 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

not " {Sultan makes a motion with his 

hand. The Minister of War bows and 
makes exit with Master of Ceremony 
through DR2E.) 

Sultan — {Calling after hifn.) "You 
need meditation." {Enter orderly from door 
R2E.) 

Master of Ceremony — "Your Majesty, 
his excellency the Minister of Finance, Ismed 
Pasha." 

Sultan — "Present him." {Exit orderly 
DR2E and returns quickly with the Min- 
ister of Finance, who bows low in giving the 
salute, but says nothing.) 

Sultan — "Ah. Ismed, we are in a dilem- 
ma. As you may know, the soldiers are 
amuck. You who are trained to solve such 
intricate problems as financing this govern- 
ment can surely make a suggestion that would 
be apropos." 

Ismed Pasha — "The problem is ?" 

Sultan — {Impatiently.) "To pacify 
the soldiers and get them back to the bar- 
racks as quickly as possible." 

Ismed Pasha — {Astutely.) "Why not 
get them back in the same manner in which 
they were induced to leave?" 

Sultan — "How was that?" 

{The Minister of Finance looks at Miz- 



Act IV 121 

zet and then at the Sultan and simply shrugs 
his shoulders.) 

Sultan — "Speak, man, and without 
fear." 

Ism ED Pasha — "By gold, or" {Signifi- 
cantly.) "by promises of gold." 

MizzET— "Great!" 

IsMED Pasha — (Dryly.) "Pass the word 
that more gold will be forthcoming to those 
soldiers who have so faithfully performed 
their orders, provided they are back in the 
barracks by daybreak." 

MizzET — (Excitedly and standing up.) 
"We can say that the money will be paid out 
only as long as it lasts and first come first 
served, and that we will start paying early." 

Sultan — "Very good, Mizzet, pass the 
word at once." (Mizzet hows and makes 
exit through DR2E.) 

IsMED Pasha — "May I go?" 

Sultan — "I prefer you spend the night 
at the palace to-night. A little knowledge is 
a dangerous thing, and I would like to know 
how much more you know of this gold 
story." (Presses push-button on end of hell 
cord by window, and attendant appears door 
R2E.) "Show the Effendi the guest cham- 
ber." (Minister bows and withdraws 
through DR2E with attendant.) 

Sultan — (Lighting a cigarette, and look- 



122 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

ing out of the window. Everything is now 
quiet outside.) "This is a beautiful night 
for a romance. I guess I shall pay that long 
deferred visit to my little kitten in Dolma 
Bagtche. It is now or never, for no telling 
what to-morrow will bring forth." 

Curtain 



ACT V 

Scene i — Dolma Bagtche Palace 

Time — About Midnight, Friday 

Exterior Scene, Full Stage 

{A portion of Dolma Bagtche Palace ex- 
tends from R to C. A wall runs from RiE 
to about two-thirds of the way to C and then 
obliquely to the palace at C. Here it joins 
a small one-story annex {Practical) to the 
palace. The top of the wall {Practical) is 
on a line with the roof of the annex. A 
gate is in the wall fore stage. Adjoining the 
annex C is a part of the palace proper. The 
main building is two stories high. Colon- 
nades face the front of the main wing of 
the building. This wing has a flat roof 
{Practical). A balustrade extends around 
the roof. The wing has no upper windows. 
An iron fence, not so high as the wall, ex- 
tends obliquely from wall {at the point where 
the wall makes the turn towards palace) to 
L2E. The fence is mounted on a stone base. 
123 



124 Within the Gates of Yildtz 

On a drop in the background is seen the 
Bosphorus. A crescent moon is shown over 
it. Stars are seen in the sky. The Sul- 
tan's yacht is shown in the distance fully 
illuminated. Lights from other vessels are 
seen. Lights twinkle from Asiatic side. A 
eunuch sits on the steps in front of palace. 
Guards stand at R and L of stage. Sultan 
enters in palace ground soon after curtain 
rises from L^E. He is smoking a cigarette 
and wears frock coat and black silk tie and 
red fez. He walks toward the water and 
looks at the stars. One is shining especially 
bright over the palace.) 

Sultan — "Oh, Venus, give me charm 
and eloquence of youth this evening, I pray 
thee, for I need them both." {Looks at 
yacht.) "If I could but win this Httle beauty 
the rest can hang. Willing or not I shall 
win her, and shall see that this night she is 
placed on board my yacht." {Looks again 

at Venus.) "Oh, Venus, fail me not " 

{Just at that moment he sees the head of a 
woman appearing over the top of the roof 
to the palace.) "Bismillah, what is that? 

How! What the It is she!" {To 

the eunuch.) '"Mustafa, quick!" {The 
eunuch runs to his master^ s side.) "Look!" 
{Points to Helaine, who has not seen the 



I 



Act V 125 

Sultan. She raises up and gives the hob 
white quail whistle.) 

Sultan — "Watch her and if she de- 
scends, catch her." {He rushes into the 
house. Helaine ivears a long cloak. She 
lowers a rope and begins to descend to the 
roof of the small annex. The eunuch begins 
to climb up the trellis work to meet her. A 
quail whistle is heard in the distance.) 

Voice from within Palace — {Low 
wail.) "Oh, spare me, my master, spare 

me. I couldn't " {Voice is suddenly 

smothered. Sultan's head appears on roof 
just about time Helaine reaches the little 
roof. The eunuch reaches the roof of the 
wing about the same time and rushes to He- 
laine and attempts to seize her. She cries 
out and, swiftly taking a long pair of scis- 
sors from her belt, stabs the eunuch through 
the heart. He falls to the roof and rolls of 
of it to the ground behind the wall. She 
looks at the weapon, then throws it from her 
in dismay.) 

Helaine — {Shuddering.) "God! what 
have I done?" 

Sultan — "Guards, stop her! shoot her!" 
( The guards are within the palace gr ounds . 
Helaine, after stabbing the eunuch, runs 
quickly along the wall that leads from the 



126 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

roof to the wall that is front stage. The 
soldiers fire at her just as she jumps. As 
she jumps Raymond rushes out from LiE 
and catches her, but both fall to the ground. 
The Sultan's head has disappeared. The 
guards exeunt L2E running. Raymond and 
Helaine both get up but Helaine sinks down 
again.) 

Helaine — "My ankles. Mon Dieu — 
Mon Dieu." {Buries face in hands.) 

Raymond — {Rushes to wings R and re- 
turns quickly.) "Crawl up this hill and you 
will find yourself at the French Embassy." 
{He takes her in his arms and rushes out 
RiE and comes back quickly alone. The 
cloak is left behind.) "They will catch her 
sure." {He looks around and perceives the 
cloak. This he throws about his shoulders 
and head and sinks down beside the wall, 
well covered up, just as the two guards run 
on the stage from LiE. They run up to the 
hidden form. The Sultan bursts out of gate 
in wall fore stage.) 

Sultan — "You fools, you have killed her ! 
Why didn't you aim high?" 

Soldiers — "We aimed at the sky, your 
Majesty." 

Sultan — "Quick, the palace doctor." 
{Both guards exeunt through gate in the 
wall. ) 



Act V 127 

''This Is terrible!" {Clenches hands to- 
gether a moment.) "Poor little dear." 
{Touches form on the shoulder. Softly.) 
"Helaine? Helalne?" 

{Draws back the cloak. Raymond springs 
up. The Sultan falls back in amazement.) 

Raymond — "I am the Charge d'Affaires 
of the American Embassy- The girl who 
just escaped is a friend of mine. You shall 
pay dearly for this, Habdul Amid." 

{Sultan springs at him in a rage.) 

Sultan — "You whelp of a mangy cur! 
I shall choke out your insolent tongue with 
these bare hands, if I lose my soul! Damn 
you!" {He has Rayjuond by the throat and 
pushes him back against the wall. Raymond 
struggles. The sudden onslaught took him 
by surprise. By a sudden upward swing of 
his arms he breaks the hold of the Sultan, and 
after a short struggle he has the Sultan by 
the throat and is choking him backward 
across his knee. The Sultan has one knee 
on the ground and has both hands on Ray- 
mond's wrist trying to break his hold.) 

Raymond — {Hisses.) "You old devil, 
you have uttered your last blaspheme!" 
{Just then the guards return with the doctor, 
through the gate. They seize Raymond and 
soon overpower him. As soon as the Sultan 
gets up he rubs his neck. He leans on the 



128 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

doctor. The soldiers hold Raymond by each 
arm.) 

Sultan — "Take him to Yildiz. To-mor- 
row at sunrise I shall see him die if I have 
to kill him myself." (Exit soldiers LiE, 
with Raymond between them.) 

Sultan — "Doctor, quick ! It may be time 
yet to catch the little mink. Let's get the 
dogs." 

(Exeunt hurriedly through gate in the 
wall. ) 

Curtain 

Scene 2 — In the Garden of Yildiz 

Time — Saturday morning 

Exterior Scene 

(At R is seen outside of the circular room, 
Sultan's den, the interior of which was shown 
in Act IV, Scene 2. The house extends from 
wings on right nearly to C. From C rear to 
L rear extends a brick wall about seven feet 
high. Shrubbery along L side from front to 
rear. Small set tree, 'practical, at point about 
ten feet from rear L corner. Walk extends 
from RiE to C, thence to C rear and exit 
around rear house R. There is small pro- 
jection from the right face of the building at 
the end of which is a door. The projection 



Act V 129 

makes very narrow the passage into the 
building. The building is one story, and 
the part seen from the audience is circular 
in outline. It is attached to the main pal- 
ace, but only a slight projection of the pal- 
ace is shown at R zving. The house has 
two small, narrow zvindows in it, facing stage 
front. It is guarded with heavy blinds from 
inside. These are closed. Time, at rise, just 
before dawn. Stage is first dark. Sentinel 
zualks to and fro across stage. Light is grad- 
ually made brighter. Birds begin to sing. 
Clouds get reddish, then golden. Distant fir- 
ing is heard; then, bugle calls; artillery firing; 
more firing. The sentry stops as if listening. 
Sound of galloping horse is heard. It gets 
nearer and then stops. In rushes Mizzet 
from RiE. He is dressed in trousers, boots 
and spurs, but wears a pajama jacket instead 
of a shirt. He has a bandage tied around 
his head. The sentry stops him.) 

Sentry— ''Halt!" 

Mizzet — {At C.) "This is no time for 
ceremony. Get his Majesty here at once." 
{Firing is growing louder. Yells are heard.) 
"Hurry." 

( The sentry rushes into building through 
small door at C. Mizzet stamps around, 
whipping his boots with his crop, showing 
impatience. Out rush the Sultan and sen- 



130 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

try from same door. The Sultan is dressed 
in dark trousers, brown lounging robe, shirt 
without collar. He wears slippers and fez. 
It is now about full light.) 

Sultan — {Excitedly.) "What Is it, are 
we attacked?" 

MizzET — "Yes, and the Tash Kischla bar- 
rack has fallen. From It they are directing 
a murderous crossfire on the other two bar- 
racks. They cannot hold out long, and this 
place will be next." 

{Shriek of a shell is heard.) 

Sultan — {Pointing to Mizzet's head.) 
"You are wounded." 

MizZET — "I was struck by a stray bullet. 
It is nothing." 

Sultan — "It looks like the beginning of 
the end. Get to the yacht as quickly as 
possible. I shall join you shortly." {Sultan 
starts to reenter the house.) "But wait. 
There is one thing that I promised myself 
that shall be carried out. That Is the shoot- 
ing of that American, curse him." {He 
clenches his fist. To the guard.) "Have the 
prisoner that was taken last night at Dolma 
Bagtche brought here at once by the death 
squad. Make haste." {Guard makes exit 
RiE. The Sultan climbs up on the wall at 
L rear by means of some spikes driven in 
the wall and looks over the wall.) 



Act V 131 

Sultan — "Kishkisla seems to be still hold- 
ing out, but I can see the shells striking the 
building. That artillery fire must be directed 
by German Ofiicers. It is too accurate to 
be Turkish." {Excitedly.) "The barracks 
have raised the white flag." 

{Marching of soldiers is heard. Squad 
of four men led by an officer come in from 
RiE with prisoner between them. The Sul- 
tan gets down and points to the little tree. 
The corporal and soldiers salute. The offi- 
cer gives some orders, and the prisoner is 
blindfolded and hands tied behind him, and 
then led up to the tree and fastened to it. 
Shells can be heard shrieking more plainly. 
Soldiers line up in firing order.) 

MizzET — "Hurry, your Majesty. They 
are firing on this place, and any moment it 
may be too late." 

{Sultan raises his hand to the officer, who 
gives order to soldiers.) 

Officer — "Attention. Load." {Soldiers 

load.) 

Officer — "Aim!" 

{Just as they aim a shell is heard to loudly 
shriek, followed by a crash and a loud ex- 
plosion. A cloud of smoke, dust and parts 
of shrubbery are thrown on the stage from 
LiE. The force of explosion has thrown 



132 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

one soldier on his hack and staggered the 
others.) 

MizzET — "Run, they have our range!" 

{The soldiers drop their guns and flee. 
Exeunt RiE and LiE. Mizzet tries to push 
the Sultan into the door C. The Sultan 
pushes Imn away, reaches down, and picks 
up the gun from the fallen soldier, who jumps 
up and runs.) 

Sultan — {Taking aim at the prisoner.) 
"Damn him, he shall die!" 

{A shell hits the wall and it collapses, 
leaving a big gap. The Sultan and Mizzet 
are both knocked down. A bugle call is 
heard. Mizzet jumps up, fairly throws the 
Sultan into the passageway C, and then runs 
of stage RiE just as a squad of mounted 
cavalrymen dash up to the opening. They 
leave their horses outside the wall, and rush 
inside, followed by numerous soldiers with 
white caps on their heads. All shout.) 

Soldiers — "Where is Bedros, Peter the 
Armenian? Where is he, Habdul Amid?" 

{An armored automobile drives before the 
gap. It contains three officers and a girl. 
Helaine rushes through the gap. On seeing 
Raymond tied to the tree, she utters a cry, 
and rushes to him and pulls the bandage from 
his eyes.) 

Helaine — "Oh — my brave boy, thank 



Act V 133 

God we were in time." {She takes his face 
in her hands and kisses it,) "Speak, dear, 
are you hurt?" 

Raymond — "I thought I was dead, but to 
awake and find you is like heaven." 

{She kisses him again. 

Kevshet Pasha conies up.) 

Kevshet Pasha — "Permit me to release 
him so he can defend himself." 

{All three laugh. Raymond is released, 
and rubs his wrists and eyes.) 

Raymond — "You had a decisive victory. 
Let me congratulate and thank you, General. 
You came none too quick for me." {He 
shakes the general's hand.) 

Kevshet — "It was a costly victory. When 
we first attacked Tash Kischla, the inmates 
raised a white flag, but when we sent a regi- 
ment of men to take the surrender, the 
treacherous dogs shot them and their ofiicers 
down to a man. I then commanded that the 
volunteers lead in taking the barracks, and 
cautioned them to shoot down the regulars 
among our own troops if they showed signs 
of mutiny. I ordered them to bring no pris- 
oners. We made a breach with the artil- 
lery; the place was taken by storm, and the 
fifteen hundred men inside were slain." 
{Soldiers led by a captain and a lieutenant 
rush back on the stage from RiE.) 



134 JVithin the Gates of Yildiz 

Soldiers — "Where Is Bedros? Let's 
smoke him out." 

Kevshet — "Stop!" {Men all stop.) 
"Have a line thrown around the place." 
{The officers salute.) 

Captain Mohamid Ali Bey — "Fall in." 
{Men fall in.) "Every ten paces one man 
step out. Forward." {Led by the lieutenant, 
they march out the breach in the ivall, leav- 
ing a man at each ten paces.) 

Helaine — "Oh ! I forgot. The Sultan 
told me that he had a secret passageway from 
that room" {Points to room) "to his yacht. 
Quick — to the Bosphorus at the spot just off 
of which is moored his yacht." {She runs 
towards the auto — Raymond follows.) 

Kevshet — ( To the captain. ) "When the 
Kiosh is surrounded, search it. We go to 
the harbor." {Kevshet rushes to the auto 
after Helaine and Raymond. Car moves 
from view. Soldiers appear on stage at 
R. Lieutenant in charge salutes the captain, 
who has remained on the stage.) 

Lieutenant — "The Kiosh and garden of 
Yildiz is surrounded!" 

Captain Mohamid Ali Bey — {Pointing 
to the door of the house.) "Search that 
first." {An order is given by the lieutenant, 
and four soldiers start for the door. At 
this point the lights on the stage are dimmed 



Act V 135 

and the interior of the house is illuminated 
so that it can be seen from the audience. 
The Sultan is seen inside moving about hur- 
riedly, taking bags from niches in the wall, 
and packing them into a large leather box he 
has under his arm. The soldiers begin break- 
ing down the door. The Sultan darts to the 
wall at L rear of the room, pulls knob, and 
the rapid-fire gun rolls into place and com- 
mands the passageway. He reaches down and 
pulls the knob at fountain base. As the sol- 
diers batter in the door, the gun begins to 
shoot rapidly ; the attacking men fall. More 
rush up; they fall. Sufficient time has elapsed 
during the attack to allow Kevshet and his 
party to reach the mouth of the secret pas- 
sageway on the BospUorus. The fountain 
lifts. The Sultan takes the box under his 
arm and prepares to escape, but pauses to 
shake his fist in the direction of the attacking 
party at the door. He turns and looks down 
into the opening to find that he has pointing 
at his breast a dozen bayonets. He falls 
back against the wall in dismay. No action 
and silence for a few moments.) 

Sultan — "Kismet." 

(Soldiers followed by Kevshet pour out 
of the passage and seize the Sultan.) 

Curtain 



136 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Scene J — Grand Salon. French Embassy 

Time — Few days later 

Interior Scene, Full Stage 

( Two Turkish Krevasses with knives and 
pistols stuck in their belts stand at R and L 
of rear entrance. Their uniforms contain 
much gold braid. Butler in plain evening 
dress suit stands at door C rear. At rise, 
there is no one on the stage but the servants, 
Krevasses, butlers and musicians. A moment 
later the Ambassador enters from R2E. The 
Ambassador is dressed in evening coat with 
dark satin knee trousers, pumps. He has a 
red satin ribbon across his chest with a dec- 
oration on same. At the same time the Am- 
bassadress makes entrance from L^E. Ser- 
vants straighten up stiffly in their respective 
places.) 

Ambassador — "Ah, my dear, I am 
pleased to see that you are strictly on time 
this time. Here in the Levant, where social 
functions of this character are so seldom 
given, all formalities are closely observed." 

Ambassadress — "That I appreciate, but 
I must confess what makes me so early 
this time is my interest in this affair, which 
is far more than I have had in the others. 
Besides, this is my party for Helaine." {She 



Act V 137 

places her hand on his arm.) "I knew her 
when she was a little girl. Her mother has 
always been a dear friend of mine." 

Ambassador — "She is a remarkable girl, 
and has had a remarkable experience. I hear 
that it was only her strength of character 
that kept him from her so long. I^ suppose 
now she will marry the young American who 
aided her in her escape. I have investigated 
his family, and he comes from good people, 
well thought of in his country. However, he 
has only his salary for support, and that is 
hardly sufficient to decently support him." 

Ambassadress — "That is too bad, for 
she is crazy about him. While her family 
own big estates, they are heavily incumbered, 
and her mother has had her heart set on 
Helaine's marrying a rich man. She is the 
only child." 

{Enter Helaine from LjE. She is dressed 
in white, and has a large hunch of pink roses 
in her arms. She zvears one in her hair.) 

Helaine — "Oh, there you are, Tante. 
I have been looking everywhere for you. 
You certainly look beautiful; doesn't she, 
your Excellency?" 

Ambassador — "She always does." 

Helaine — "And I ?" {She drops a cour- 
tesy.) 

Ambassador — {Laughing.) "If you 



138 JVithin the Gates of Yildiz 

don't want my wife to be jealous of you, 
don't ask." 

Ambassadress — "Pay him no attention, 
Helaine, he is an old tease and a flirt. You 
do look lovely. Turn around." {Helaine 
does so.) "You are like a dainty creation 
in Dresden china." 

{Ambassadress arranges the how in the 
hack of Helaine' s dress.) "Where did you 
get the beautiful roses?" {Helaine shows 
emharrassment.) 

Ambassador — "Such a superfluous ques- 
tion. They are a donation from the Old 
Men's Home. Are they not, Helaine?" {He- 
laine hugs them up close.) 

Helaine — "I shall not answer such im- 
pudence." {She takes the Amhassadress by 
the arm and leads her down stage.) "Read 
this." {She gives the Ambassadress a note 
which she takes out of her girdle. The Am- 
bassador walks to rear, lights a cigarette and 
talks to the butler at door C rear.) 

Ambassadress — {Reading.) "Oh, had 
I but a world, like Marc Antony, to lay at 
thy feet, my Cleopatra." {Smiles.) 

Helaine — {Handing her a second one 
and naively.) "Now, read this. It came 
with the books yesterday." 

Ambassadress — {Reading note.) 



Act V 139 

"Sunlit eyes and sunklssed tresses 
And a sweet madonna's face, 
With the beauty that it possesses 
And all the charm of human grace. 

Buonarotti's sculptured marble 
Hath no symmetry more choice, 

Nor the mocking bird's sweet warble 
Is sweeter than your voice." 

{Shaking head at Helaine.) "My, my, 
but he is a lover." {Laughs heartily.) 

Helaine — {Snatching the notes peevishly 
and placing them in the bosom of her dress.) 
"Oh, Tante, he is such a dear, and I love 
him madly. After my awful experience and 
from what he saved me, in the face of almost 
certain death to himself, have I not earned a 
right to marry for love, one of my own choos- 
ing, and has he not a positive claim on me, if 
he wants me?" 

Ambassadress — "How do you know he 
wants you, my little puss; has he proposed 
yet?"^ 

Helaine — {Hanging her head and then 
looking up.) "No, not yet; but he will." 
{She clasps her hand over her heart and 
face brightens.) "To-night; I feel it." 

Ambassadress — "And will you accept 
him?" 



140 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Helaine — "Don't press me on that point, 
but please send a despatch to my mother ex- 
plaining and interceding for me, won't you, 
dear Tante?" 

Ambassadress — "But you hardly know 
the man. You have known him only a few 
days. You can not know your mind so soon." 

Helaine — "I shall tell you a secret." 
{She puts her head on the Ambassadress* 
shoulder and giggles.) "I have known him 
a long time. Ever since the day I got here." 
{Laughing.) "He worked for me!" {Gig- 
gles again.) 

Ambassadress — "Helaine, stop this non- 
sense. What do you mean, child? He 
worked for you?" 

Helaine — "When those two polished and 
elegant rascals, my escorts, Monsieurs Bidel- 
eux and Toriont" {She hows in mock cour- 
tesy)^ "and myself arrived in this city, we 
looked about for a courier. We saw a sign 
at the depot which said 'Couriers to be had 
here' ; under this sign stood a fine-looking 
young man. I quickly told Toriont to engage 
him. When we approached him on the sub- 
ject he appeared somewhat taken back, but 
saw the sign which was over his head and 
then he saw me. Tante, I can never forget 
that look. He seemed to drink in my soul 
through his eyes, and I felt myself drifting 



Act V 141 

towards him. I felt something primeval rise 
In me and say, 'This Is he!' He looked at 
me so long that BIdeleux spoke to him 
sharply. He Immediately retained his com- 
posure, blushed profusely, apologized deeply, 
and said that It would be his pleasure to show 
us about the city. However, his actions were 
so marked that they dismissed him at the 
gate of YUdlz, and he refused to take any 
money, but merely looked at me right hard 
and said he had been amply rewarded. He 
blushed again and stated that the porter of 
the Pera Palace Hotel would get him for us 
should we need him. All the way from the 
depot to the palace we tried to talk to each 
other, but could not, and do you know, 
Tante, all the time I was In that old horrid 
harem I felt sure It would be he who would 
rescue me. I prayed that it would be he." 

Ambassadress — "And pray when did you 
find out that he was the Charge d' Affaires 
of the American Embassy?" 

Helaine — "Not until I was liberated; 
that is where the joke Is on me." {Laugh- 
ingly.) "I thought all along I was in love 
with a courier." 

Ambassadress — "I have already advised 
your mother of this love affair, and knowing 
what a headstrong girl you are, I have asked 



142 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

her how to act. I think we shall receive a 
despatch from her to-day." 

Ambassador — {Coviing down stage to 
them.) "Our guests are arriving." 

{Orchestra at L starts playing soft music. 
Ambassadress, Ambassador and Helaine 
walk to C and there receive the guests. He- 
laine stands down stage.) 

Butler — "His Excellency, the Ambassa- 
dor of England, and her excellency the Am- 
bassadress, en suite." {The suite is made 
up of the Ambassador and Ambassadress, 
two secretaries of the Embassy, and the cap- 
tain of the gunboat attached to the Embassy. 
These bow low to the host, hostess and guest 
of honor and make way for the others by 
walking to the punch bowl. The men kiss 
the hands of the ladies in greeting them.) 

Butler — {As others come in from L and 
R rear, and enter room through arch C 
Rear.) "Their Excellencies, the Ambassa- 
dor and Ambassadress of Russia, en suite. 
Their Excellencies, the Ambassador and Am- 
bassadress of Germany, en suite. Their 
Excellencies, the Ambassador and Ambassa- 
dress from Austria-Hungary, en suite. 
Their Excellencies, the Ambassador and 
Ambassadress of Spain, en suite. Buchnam 
Pasha, Ismed Bey, Kianil Pasha, Costa Con- 



Act V 143 

stantinidis Bey, His Excellency, Hilmat 
Pasha." 

( The guests, after greeting the hostess, 
guest of honor and host, gather in small 
groups; some partake of punch. The men 
crowd around Helaine. A beautiful piece 
of music is finished. All applaud,) 

Butler — "His Excellency, the American 
Ambassador and the Charge d' Affaires of the 
American Embassy." 

{All talk is hushed. On entering both bow 
deeply to the assemblage and walk over to 
the host, hostess and guest of honor,) 

American Ambassador — "Your Excel- 
lency, Madame and Mademoiselle, we are 
late. I guess it is better late than never, but 
if I had not been the better man, we both 
would never have arrived here. You would 
have thought that this young man was the 
Sun's bride and I was the High Priest, 
bringing him here to be sacrificed." {All 
laugh, ) 

Helaine — {Aside.) "Raymond, how 
could you?" 

Raymond — {Embarrassed.) "That's all 
chaff. He insisted on our trying to get here 
before you were all up this morning." {Kisses 
her hand, aside,) "Ah, and I thought that 
velvet was soft." {He tries to kiss it again, 
but she snatches it away,) 



144 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Helaine — "I want a word with you, 
young man." {She takes him over to divan, 
front stage, and they sit down. Shaking 
finger in his face.) "Why have you avoided 
me since our escape? If you do not care, 
why do you persist in sending me such pretty 
flowers, books and such lovely little notes?" 

Raymond — {Looking at her steadily,) 
"Helaine, ever since that morning at Yildiz, 
when you took the bandage off my eyes and I 
looked into yours, I have been in a dream. 
I was afraid if I came about you and said 
what was in my heart to say I would wake 
up with a jolt." 

Helaine — "Will this wake you?" {She 
leans over and slyly kisses him on the cheek.) 

Raymond — "Why, Helaine." {He looks 
at her in amazement. Pause.) "You have 
now thrown me into a deep trance. It will 
take a hundred more to bring me out." 

Helaine — {Laughing.) "You talk very 
much as though you had your full senses." 

Raymond — {Taking Helaine* s hand.) 
"Dear, since I saw you at the depot, and 
lost you again, I have been nearly frantic. 
I haunted the Pera Palace hotel, but the 
porters told me your party had left and I 
thought you had gone with them. To get 
you back in the way I have has made you 
dearer to me than existence, but I had not 



Act V 145 

then, nor have I now, the right to make love 
to you, and to ask for an obligation on your 
part until first I have a home and a better 
position to give you. At any moment I may 
be sent to Africa or to some outrageous fever- 
ridden place In Central America. I can't ask 
you to share such a life and on such a pit- 
tance I receive if I loved you and your com- 
fort. You, who have been brought up like a 
princess. Anyway" {Fervently) ''you are 
my queen, and I love you." 

Helaine — {Fervently.) "You are my 
king, and I love you. I can wait." {Both 
sigh,) 

Butler — {Announcing.) "Kevshet Pasha, 
Generalissimo, and Javid Bey, new Minister 
of Finance." 

{Helaine and Raymond stand up. Kevshet 
and Javid how and present themselves to the 
host, hostess and walk over to Helaine, Both 
kiss her hand, bowing deeply. They shake 
hands with Raymond.) 

Kevshet — "In behalf of the army and 
government, I want to thank you two young 
people for the part you played in this revo- 
lution. I thank you, effendi, for aiding the 
young lady to escape, for if this had not been 
she would have been unable to have informed 
us of the secret passage by means of which 
we captured the escaping Sultan." 



146 Within the Gates of Yildiz 

Javid Bey — {He has a portfolio in his 
hand.) "When taken, he had on his person 
notes and securities equivalent to several 
million dollars in your money. These we 
would have lost had it not been for you, 
Mademoiselle, and in behalf of the Young 
Turks I take pleasure in presenting to you 
as a token of our gratitude and as a recom- 
pensation, small as it may be, for your de- 
plorable, compulsory incarceration, the sum 
of a hundred thousand Turkish liras. I pray 
you to honor us by accepting same." {He 
extends the portfolio to Helaine, who takes 
it as in a daze. All applaud heartily.) 

Helaine — "I hardly know what to say. 
I am so very grateful for getting out, and I 
expected no recompensation. I don't know 
how much this is, but I know it must be a 
whole lot. I thank you, Monsieurs." {She 
courtesies.) 

American Ambassador — {Holding a 
document in his hand.) "Ladies and gentle- 
men. Here is something that arrived in the 
mail a very short time ago, but I have held 
it back for such a propitious time as this." 
{He holds aloof the docinnent.) "This con- 
tains bad news for most of us while very 
good news to one of us, possibly two." {He 
looks at Helaine as he opens the document.) 
"This instructs one Raymond McKensie, 



Act V 



147 



former Charge d'Affaires American Em- 
bassy, stationed at Constantinople, to proceed 
at once to Tangier and to occupy there the 
post of Envoy Extraordinary Minister 
Plenipotentiary for the United States of 
America." {Loud applause.) "I might add 
that there is no fairer spot on this green 
globe. Where it is never cold nor hot, where 
the flowers always bloom, and where the deli- 
cious tangerines grow. An ideal place for a 
honeymoon." (^All laugh and applaud.) 

{A servant comes in from R2E, gives a 
despatch to the French Ambassadress, who 
reads it and hands it to the Ambassador. 
Exit servant R2E.) 

French Ambassador — {Taking mes- 
sage.) "Here is a despatch to my wife from 
France which she has asked me to read." 
{Reading.) " 'We are so elated over the 
news of Helaine's safety that we want only 
her happiness considered. I leave everything 
in your hands, my dear Louise. Act afs 
though she were your daughter. I have ab- 
solute confidence in your judgment. Love to 
you both. Geneveve.' " 

Helaine — {Rushing up to the Ambassa- 
dress and swinging her around.) "Say yes, 
Tante; say yes I" 

Ambassadress — {Kissing her on the 



148 IFithin the Gates of Yildiz 

cheek.) "You are Irresistible, Helaine, and 
headstrong." 

Helaine — "Say it ! say it ! say it !" 

Ambassadress — {Patting her on the 
cheek.) "Yes — yes — yes!" 

{Helaine rushes to Raymond and both 
dance around in a ring.) 

Butler — "Refreshments are being served 
in the salle a manger," 

{All exeunt C door rear walking to L, 
except Raymond and Helaine, who remain 
standing at C. 

As the last person leaves, a form is seen 
to slink along from R rear hack of the pillars 
and enter C rear. Helaine and Raymond, 
both startled, glance at it. The figure looks 
around cautiously, then comes forward 
quickly but noiselessly, salaams deeply, 
kneels and kisses the hem of Helaine's 
dress.) 

Helaine — {Looking afraid and clinging 
to Raymond.) "What do you wish — speak!" 

Ben Hassan Ali — "Oh, wondrous one, 
whose beauty dazzles the world, consider me, 
Ben Hassan Ali, an emissary from one who 
cannot come, nor dare write; one who 
will never again know freedom's delight, but 
is doomed for durance eternal in Salonika's 
dulness infernal." 



Act V 149 

Helaine — {Clasping her hands in excite- 
ment.) "You — mean — the — ex-Sultan I" 

Ben Hassan Ali — "No other than he." 
{He salaams, and straightening up, suddenly 
hands a bag to Helaine.) "His Majesty asks 
that you accept this as a token of his pro- 
found regard and everlasting respect. It is 
all he has managed to retain." 

Helaine — {Opens the bag and takes out 
the necklace of aquamarines and diamonds, 
and drops the bag on the floor.) "My neck- 
lace. Isn't it a beauty?" {She hands it to 
Raymond.) "I wanted it so before." {Fig- 
ure slinks off towards C rear as Raymond 
places it around her neck.) "After all, Ray- 
mond, he was our guiding star." {She turns 
towards figure who is backing out of the 
doorway C rear and blows a kiss off the 
end of her fingers.) "Take that to him." 
{Messenger salaams and makes exit hur- 
riedly rear R exit. Helaine places her hand 
to her temples.) "Raymond, it is I who am 
now in a dream — won't you wake me, dear?" 
{Raymond clasps her to his breast and places 
a lingering kiss on her upturned face as the 
lights grow dim and the curtain slowly falls, 
leaving the lovers enraptured in their kiss. 
At encore stage is in darkness, but spot- 
light is placed on faces of the two.) 
Curtain 



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